Suntory is really close to be the top again

A scrum half who led Suntory Sungoliath for the last 5 years since 2011, Fourie Du Preez is a best winning scrum half of the rugby world cup and delivered a lot of things to Sungoliath players in the past years. This is his last interview for Sungoliath fans and the fans around the world. (Interviewed on 19/01/2016)

◆Japanese rugby level is getting higher

—— How was 2015 rugby world cup?

It was a tough start for us after losing against Japan. I only played the last 20 mins in the Japan game but I was able to play much longer time after that game. I had an unbelievable experience doing a captain role and it was great that we came really close to winning the tournament from such a low start.

—— How did you feel after playing against Japan?

It was a tough and close game and I think Japan prepared really well to beat us.

—— Were you expecting Japan to play such an incredible game before the game starts?

I think Japan Rugby is getting better every year since the last 4 years I have been here. They are really tough to play against. As a game go on, all the people in the stadium were supporting Japan and that atmosphere gave us frustration and turned in to tough game.

—— You have been involved in three previous world cups (2007, 2011, 2015) is it a special place for you?

Yes, it's on once in every four years and it's the biggest event in the rugby competition around the world and it is the reason you play the game. It was unfortunate to win but I was privilege to be a captain and the team got tighter as a tournament goes on so I am really proud of the team.

◆Bringing back the team together with Schalk

—— What was the good things about being a captain?

I think after losing against Japan, most of the other teams will fall apart and lose the next three games. I and Schalk, obviously he was a vice captain and we were able to bring the team together and got back to the basics. We didn't fall apart; instead we fought through and came really close to winning the tournament.

—— What do you think about your captaincy?

After the Japan game, every game was a massive challenge for me mentally. But I think once you do it well and you overcome the challenges and you can start enjoying being the captain. Also our leadership groups were strong and tight, the way we stick together was unbelievable experiences for me. Schalk and the other leaders and the whole team supported me so it was great having good team mates around me. I am not being an arrogant myself but I was actually confident in my ability.

◆Why did Japan win?

—— Where do you think Japanese rugby will go from here?

I think the decisions which JRFU made now are very important because it is always easy to drop from high above. So my advice to the next coaching staff is that they should use the expertise of people from the previous four years and find out what made them successful, so not to come in and try changing things and do everything new.

—— Japanese team took along a Mental coach during the world cup, did South African team had any mental coach?

We had a mental coach just before the world cup. I think every player is different. I personally don't need it one for myself but some player might need it. Normally it's not all about rugby; usually it's more about personal problems.

◆Write down some words to keep my motivation

—— What are the things that you think it's important when you do your preparation?

I write down the things that are important for the game and make sure my body is 100% ready. When I write down, I write the mental things of what I want to achieve. In the last season for example, I write down some words like "Desperation" "Composure" and sometime I write down a reason why I play rugby. I always believe there are things which I have to do for myself before I can deliver the messages to my team.

So this is basically what I play rugby for, so friends, family and my little boy there. I write this picture before every game.

—— Could you give some messages to the Suntory scrum halves and to the other members of Suntory please.

I have really enjoyed working with them for the last four years all three of them are really good players and continue to be a better always and they are really important in a way Suntory wants to play. Take over responsibility and make your own.

For the team, I think the team is very close to be the top again and I believe next season they can win the tournament, most importantly everyone needs to stick together and I am really looking forward to see the next season.

(Translation：Nao Yoshimizu/ Interviewer & Context：Kazuyoshi Hariya/ Editor：Yutaro Igarashi)
[Photo：Aki Nagao]