Jandre Marais says Bordeaux-Begles “are not on holiday” as they prepare to face the Sharks in the Champions Cup in Durban on Saturday.
The French squad arrived in the Republic after a 24-hour journey which included stopovers in Paris and Johannesburg, but plan to fit in some off the field activities before needing at least a point from the weekend’s game to keep their last-16 hopes alive.
“We’re pretty busy. Our management staff did a great job by letting us taste all the local dishes at the hotel so we haven’t really had to move,” Marais told AFP on Thursday.
“We have a busy week, because our plane trip took a bit longer, our week is a bit shortened so we don’t have a lot of loose time.
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“Tomorrow I’ll see my brother. We’re going on a safari this afternoon. But we’re not here on holiday,” the SA-born lock added.
Marais spent six years at The Shark Tank before heading to France in 2013. Last weekend, the 33-year-old played his 200th game for Bordeaux,.
This season, South African sides are competing in the Champions Cup for the first time having left Super Rugby for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
“A lot of people are against it with the European Cup not being European anymore,” Marais said. “I feel it brings an edge to our side. It’s a different kind of rugby.
“It develops us as a team. For the French national side it will help them to play against South Africa,” he added.
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On Saturday, Marais is set to play against Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who announced he will be joining Marais in France after this year’s World Cup after signing a contract with Racing 92.
“He’ll slot in easily in Paris,” Marais said. “One thing I’ll tell him is to watch out for the bread.
“Everyone gains a little bit of weight in the first year so watch out for that,” he added.
© Agence France-Presse