KEY POINTS:
Rookie lock Anthony Boric will be pressed into an untried All Black partnership with Ali Williams for this week's return test against the Springboks after grinding second rower Brad Thorn was suspended for the Carisbrook international.
Thorn was banned for a week at yesterday's judicial hearing, after he admitted foul play when he lifted and dropped Springbok skipper John Smit soon after the start of the All Blacks 19-8 victory in Wellington.
Sanzar judicial officer Dennis Wheelahan QC ruled Thorn's actions were contrary to good sportsmanship rather than being a dangerous tackle, a release from the NZRU offices said. Wheelahan had reached his verdict after viewing the video, hearing submissions and checking Thorn's disciplinary record.
Thorn's absence from Saturday's Tri-Nations test repeat might have been avoided if referee Stu Dickinson and his nearest touch judge Paul Marks had ruled on the late and dangerous throw which happened next to them. Most at the ground saw the incident and it demanded a temporary ban for the All Black lock.
However Dickinson's vacillation and the subsequent citing meant a ban for Thorn which will reduce the All Blacks firepower even further as the world champion Boks seek redress for being outmuscled at the Cake Tin.
Senior lock Ali Williams will need further recuperation from his tender ankle to be certain of starting this weekend while Boric will have to step up for his third test with the uncapped Kevin O'Neill moving on to the bench. That should be the scenario unless the All Black selectors get extra twitchy and call up either of the more experienced Jason Eaton or Ross Filipo from the NZ Maori side.
At yesterday's judicial hearing Thorn admitted lifting and dropping Smit was an act of foul play during the All Blacks' victory which allowed them to overhaul their foes and return to the top of the world rankings.
Thorn said: "You have to learn from these things and take it for the future., It just happened, you saw it as it was, that's all I've got to say."
Thorn, who returned to rugby and the All Blacks this year, had an unblemished season until he received a yellow card for punching in the Super 14 final.
The All Blacks will be without three of their top choices - injured skipper Richie McCaw and halfback Brendon Leonard with Thorn added to that list - for the second domestic meeting with the World Cup holders.
Williams has 50 caps and Boric two while middle row rivals Victor Matfield has 71 caps and Bakkies Botha has played 49 tests for his country. Neither offered their best in Wellington as Matfield struggled to get with the tempo after playing lower club rugby in France and Botha battled his temperament.
When he mouthed, nudged and niggled All Black skipper Rodney So'oialo with 10 minutes of the test left, it was a sign the Springboks had flagged the Wellington international and their unbeaten run since being clobbered last year in Christchurch by the All Blacks.
Skipper Smit is in doubt for the repeat test in Dunedin after damaging his groin when Thorn dumped him. Several others may also be cut after unconvincing work in Wellington. If Smit does not recover, Bismarck du Plessis will start the second test with Stormers hooker Schalk Brits flying out to join the tourists as cover.
"We came here very purposeful and with the belief that we could change our fortunes here.
"We do have another crack at them," Smit said after the weekend defeat.
"It's probably as poor as we could play in the Tri-Nations and we can certainly only get better from that."
Matfield accepted he was off the pace after playing for second division Alton in France.
The Boks winning streak ended while the All Blacks extended their domestic run to 30 international successes. The All Blacks have won all seven tests against the Boks at Carisbrook since their first meeting there 87 years ago.
