Lukewarm clash set for All Blacks, Boks

CHRISTCHURCH – In the history of two of rugby’s fiercest rivals, the All Blacks and Springboks it is hard to think of a Test that means so little as Saturday’s Tri-Nations encounter.

If there is motivation to win, it is that the losing side has no chance of claiming this year’s Tri-Nations championship, the jewel in the crown of southern hemisphere rugby. But the World Cup in France later this year has robbed this weekend’s Test at Jade Stadium of its traditional prestige.Springboks coach Jake White is resting his top 20 players, not willing to risk them two months out from the World cup, while All Blacks coach Graham Henry is fielding a team with players selected because he says they need game time.”The reality is that both nations have put huge premiums on the rugby World Cup this year,” White said.”One can look at this test in isolation and feel aggrieved …but let me tell you, the World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand in France, people aren’t going to worry about what happened in Christchurch.Despite the watered-down nature of Saturday’s clash, and the fact the odds are stacked against South Africa who have not won in New Zealand for nine years, Springboks forwards coach Gert Smal has tried to talk up the passion.”The game is not made for sissies,” Smal declared when told many All Blacks believe their captain Richie McCaw was the target of cheap shots off the ball in their Tri-Nations opener last month.The Wallabies were also unhappy with the way the Springboks targeted George Smith in Sydney last weekend.”As far as I know our instructions will always be to the players to keep it as clean as possible and play the game as hard as possible as well,” Smal said, adding that Test players should expect to be physically tested.”You can’t run away from the physical part of the game and you have to be able to deal with it.”McCaw said his side paid the ultimate price for focusing too much on their opening Tri-Nations 26-21 win over South Africa in Durban, and did not adjust well to the follow-up game when they lost 15-20 to Australia in Melbourne.But he doubted that would be an issue this week.”You’ve got to use it (loss) to your advantage,” he said.Nampa-ReutersBut the World Cup in France later this year has robbed this weekend’s Test at Jade Stadium of its traditional prestige.Springboks coach Jake White is resting his top 20 players, not willing to risk them two months out from the World cup, while All Blacks coach Graham Henry is fielding a team with players selected because he says they need game time.”The reality is that both nations have put huge premiums on the rugby World Cup this year,” White said.”One can look at this test in isolation and feel aggrieved …but let me tell you, the World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand in France, people aren’t going to worry about what happened in Christchurch.Despite the watered-down nature of Saturday’s clash, and the fact the odds are stacked against South Africa who have not won in New Zealand for nine years, Springboks forwards coach Gert Smal has tried to talk up the passion.”The game is not made for sissies,” Smal declared when told many All Blacks believe their captain Richie McCaw was the target of cheap shots off the ball in their Tri-Nations opener last month.The Wallabies were also unhappy with the way the Springboks targeted George Smith in Sydney last weekend.”As far as I know our instructions will always be to the players to keep it as clean as possible and play the game as hard as possible as well,” Smal said, adding that Test players should expect to be physically tested.”You can’t run away from the physical part of the game and you have to be able to deal with it.”McCaw said his side paid the ultimate price for focusing too much on their opening Tri-Nations 26-21 win over South Africa in Durban, and did not adjust well to the follow-up game when they lost 15-20 to Australia in Melbourne.But he doubted that would be an issue this week.”You’ve got to use it (loss) to your advantage,” he said.Nampa-Reuters