6 Sep 2011

Sport: South Africa know Fiji and Samoa will have crowd's support

10:44 am on 6 September 2011

The Springboks winger, Bryan Habana, says the defending Rugby World champs are expecting to feel isolated when they take on the Pacific nations of Fiji and Samoa in pool play in New Zealand.

South Africa will open their title defence against Wales this Sunday in Wellington with Fiji and Samoa looming.

South Africa will be favoured to win their pool but Habana says Samoa and fiji will have the crowds behind them in New Zealand.

"In Marseille in 2007 at 20 points all it actually felt like we were playing in Fiji. So I think the smaller teams do get a lot of support, especially in New Zealand. You know the islanders are going to get a lot of support. So we are going to have draw strength from each other. We know how much support we have from back at home at the moment and I think that energy will also help quite a bit."