Imanol Harinordoquy, French flanker have named the Springboks the best team in the World, but added that the Boks are a nasty team to contend with.

Harinordoquy, who will start on the flank this weekend alongside captain Thierry Dusautoir and No.8 Louis Picamoles, says he is looking forward to the challenge of taking on the World Champions when the two powerful teams collide in France on Friday.

Expecting a physical challenge, the Biarritz star says, while they stay within the laws, the Boks are a ‘nasty’ outfit to have to contend with. Ironically, given his own physical nature, the term nasty seems to be one which the Frenchman uses as a compliment for John Smit’s men.

“South Africa are world champions, they are the best team in the world but they also are the nastiest and most physical team in the world. A team that is always trying to hurt,” he explained to journalists on Monday.

“Of course, they play inside the rules, they don’t stamp on you or knee you because now if you do that it’s a yellow card or even a red card.

“Our sport is changing but the fundamentals are the same. A rugby game, and particularly a game against the Springboks, is above all a fight between two packs of forwards.”

Earlier in the week former French captain, Lucien Mias, made the point that the Springboks had adopted an aggressive approach to their rugby in recent time, saying that, “in a sport of sacrifice, the Springboks have decided once and for all to be the butcher rather than the lamb.”

While he agrees with the sentiment behind the expression Harinordoquy insists that it does not necessarily mean that his team are there for the taking this weekend.

“Yes, you could say they are butchers but I can assure you we are not going to be the lambs on Friday.”

An experienced international with 56 caps to his name, Harinordoquy has a huge amount of respect for the current World Champions. While they may not be the most complicated team in terms of their structure, the South Africans, according to France’s No.7, remain the benchmark in world rugby.

“They don’t play a very sophisticated game but they always try to break their opponents defence, they are very strong on the tackle, and in the rucks, their line-out is superb and they are hefty in the physical duels.

“We beat them last time we met but it was in 2006 (36-26 in Cape Town) and they were rebuilding their team. Friday’s test will be another story, winning the World Cup has given them a lot of confidence and they can hammer any team in the world,” he added.

“To match them, we’ll have to be very strong on the fundamentals of the game, do simple things but do them well even if sometimes it’s the most difficult. I’m sure we can do it but we’ll have to be at our best and play with a lot of solidarity.”

Source: rugby365.com