Springbok coach Jake White set very high standards when it came to strength and conditioning.
White told keo.co.za that the requirements were the bare minimum for a player to be considered physically strong and fast enough to play test rugby. He expects the players to exceed the targets.
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Props will have to run the 10 metres in 1.8 seconds and the 40 metres in 5.65 seconds. They must push 150 kilograms in bench press (1 rep maximum) and squat 180 kilograms. The props' vertical jump must be 55cm.
Hookers must run the 10 metres in 1.75 and the 40 in 5.5 seconds, push 150 kilograms in the bench press and squat 180 kilograms. The vertical jump must be 60cm.
Locks must also run the 10 in 1.75, the 40 in 5.5 seconds, push 150 in the bench and squat 160 kilograms. The vertical jump has to be 65cm.
Loose forwards: 1.72 seconds in the 10 metres, 5.3 seconds in the 40 metres, 130 kilograms in the bench and 160 kilograms in a maximum squat. Vertical jump: 63cm.
Centres: 1.65 seconds in the 10 metres, 5.20 in the 40 metres, 130 kg's in the bench press and 160 in the squat. Vertical jump: 65cm.
Wings: 1.65 seconds in the 10 metres, 5.10 seconds in the 40 metres, 130 kg bench press, 160 kg squat and a vertical jump of 68cm.
If these standards applied in 2003, then half the national squad would not have been selected. Testing done in 2003 showed that half the squad failed to reach these requirements in some or all of the disciplines.
Other standards set include the mm skin folds, that determine body fat percentage and a bleep test that determines recovering and general fitness.
The Skinfold standard and bleep test levels are:
Props are allowed 12% body fat; hookers 11%, locks 12%; loose forwards 10%; and the backs 9%.
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