It's Christmas eve in the Springbok camp and they can’t wait to open their presents when the clock strikes 12.
We all know the feeling; you're jittery all over, anxious to see what is hidden under the wrapping paper with your name on it.
There is one major difference in the Bok camp, though - they know exactly what to expect when they open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on Saturday.
Coach Rassie Erasmus has prepared his charges well and all that is left to do is for them to do is perform.
Erasmus said over the weekend: “I think the whole of Japan woke up this morning to the knowledge that the World Cup was here and I’m sure that all of the other teams will be feeling what we’re feeling.”
GAME TIME: One of the Spingboks' objectives was to get game time against tough competition like Japan. Photo: Franck Robichon/EPA.
He added: “We [the Springboks] have been together for 11, 12 weeks now, basically away from home most of the time, and we have certainly got closer as a team.
“We have achieved a lot of the objectives we set in coming early to Japan.
“The first was to get to know the country and the people and how things operate here and to be comfortable in the country and we’ve achieved that.
“The second one was to get some match time against good opposition, which was Japan, and we achieved that.
“And then obviously the third one was to get the guys used to the climatic conditions, not just the heat, but the humidity, both in match and in training time and we’ve done that...
TRAINING HARD: Boks are hard in training with coach Rassie Erasmus. Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix.
“Something that has stood out for me - and I don’t think I’ve seen this anywhere else - is the people of the host nation wearing the jersey of the visiting team, the Springbok badge.
“I think that’s been amazing to see the Japanese people wearing the Springbok jersey. I think that shows a lot of respect and I think we can learn a lot from that.
“It makes us proud to see that and I think you can be proud of how you have supported the World Cup and adopting teams that are visiting here and making them feel at home.”
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/PictureJournal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PictureJournalEntry 7:
🏋️♂️ Pushing the limits in the weight room
🎱 All Blacks week starts now #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/sy1xW2MazY
— Springboks (@Springboks)
Captain Siya Kolisi added: “I think it was a great call for us to come early and it has been a great privilege.
“We know how to handle the conditions now and the fact that our training has been very hard means it will stand us in good stead. The benefits will come.”