JOHANNESBURG, May 11 (Reuters) - The team that wins this year's Tri-Nations will find it hard to peak again at the World Cup which starts just three weeks after the southern hemisphere tournament's conclusion, South Africa captain John Smit said.
The Tri-Nations, contested by South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, concludes on Aug. 20, with the World Cup getting underway in New Zealand on Sept. 9.
"There's a fine line because obviously the Tri-Nations is valuable preparation for the World Cup, but you need to be physically ready to add value at the World Cup," Smit told Reuters on Wednesday.
"One perspective is that no team has won the Tri-Nations and then the World Cup in the same year. The peaking scenario is mostly mental, but you have to make sure your body can follow through on that.
"The team that wins the World Cup will be the one that understands the pressure and uses that to their advantage. I think 25 of the 30 players who won the World Cup in 2007 can still go out there and play for us."
Smit said the team that wins the Tri-Nations will be the one that suffers the least burnout from the Super Rugby competition, which concludes in early July.
Super Rugby has been extended this year with the addition of a 15th team, with a conference system and the six-team playoffs meaning the top sides from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand could potentially play 19 matches compared to last year's 15.
With the speed and intensity of matches also increasing, injury lists have quickly grown across all three countries.
"The Tri-Nations will all depend on how the teams come out of Super Rugby. It's been a different level of physicality and intensity this year, plus the spice added by the local derbies. So it all depends on how your best 30 players come out of that competition," Smit added.
PLAYER BURNOUT
"You would like to field your best XV for the Tri-Nations, but it depends on how burnt-out they are after Super Rugby.
"There's certainly a different stance in this year's Tri-Nations because you want to win it, but it's a helluva tough competition to win at the best of times.
"You don't have much choice, more than 22 players are going to play in it and then you'll see what's left over and what state they're in at the end of it.
The Springboks, in particular, will be hoping their leading players can discover the fountain of youth before they defend their World Cup title, with allegations that some leading players have been pacing themselves in Super Rugby.
Smit said that was just a "conspiracy theory".
"If you hold yourself back then you open yourself up for huge injury risks. There's no room for holding back in Super Rugby because you get exposed so badly if you do," he said.
Smit said the Springboks would back the experience in the squad to get their planning right for both the Tri-Nations and the World Cup.
"We hope we're going the right way and we'll only know after the World Cup. The Tri-Nations is an excellent opportunity to weigh yourself against Australia and New Zealand, two teams that could win the World Cup, just before the tournament starts."
The Tri-Nations, contested by South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, concludes on Aug. 20, with the World Cup getting underway in New Zealand on Sept. 9.
"There's a fine line because obviously the Tri-Nations is valuable preparation for the World Cup, but you need to be physically ready to add value at the World Cup," Smit told Reuters on Wednesday.
"One perspective is that no team has won the Tri-Nations and then the World Cup in the same year. The peaking scenario is mostly mental, but you have to make sure your body can follow through on that.
"The team that wins the World Cup will be the one that understands the pressure and uses that to their advantage. I think 25 of the 30 players who won the World Cup in 2007 can still go out there and play for us."
Smit said the team that wins the Tri-Nations will be the one that suffers the least burnout from the Super Rugby competition, which concludes in early July.
Super Rugby has been extended this year with the addition of a 15th team, with a conference system and the six-team playoffs meaning the top sides from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand could potentially play 19 matches compared to last year's 15.
With the speed and intensity of matches also increasing, injury lists have quickly grown across all three countries.
"The Tri-Nations will all depend on how the teams come out of Super Rugby. It's been a different level of physicality and intensity this year, plus the spice added by the local derbies. So it all depends on how your best 30 players come out of that competition," Smit added.
PLAYER BURNOUT
"You would like to field your best XV for the Tri-Nations, but it depends on how burnt-out they are after Super Rugby.
"There's certainly a different stance in this year's Tri-Nations because you want to win it, but it's a helluva tough competition to win at the best of times.
"You don't have much choice, more than 22 players are going to play in it and then you'll see what's left over and what state they're in at the end of it.
The Springboks, in particular, will be hoping their leading players can discover the fountain of youth before they defend their World Cup title, with allegations that some leading players have been pacing themselves in Super Rugby.
Smit said that was just a "conspiracy theory".
"If you hold yourself back then you open yourself up for huge injury risks. There's no room for holding back in Super Rugby because you get exposed so badly if you do," he said.
Smit said the Springboks would back the experience in the squad to get their planning right for both the Tri-Nations and the World Cup.
"We hope we're going the right way and we'll only know after the World Cup. The Tri-Nations is an excellent opportunity to weigh yourself against Australia and New Zealand, two teams that could win the World Cup, just before the tournament starts."
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