Coach White targets All Blacks in verbal attack

DURBAN - The All Blacks have again been accused of cheating in the lineouts as the Tri-Nations mind games began ahead of Sunday's (NZT) rugby test against the Springboks in Cape Town.

South African coach Jake White stirred a passive pre-test build-up today by claiming the New Zealanders cheated when under pressure at the lineout, latching on to an argument first employed by vanquished Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward a month ago.

White and Woodward have compared notes about how to combat the All Blacks, and the South African today appealed for Australian referee Andrew Cole to be vigilant about what he described as a cynical tactic.

After naming his side, White spoke at length about the All Blacks' ploy to concede a free kick when a defensive lineout was called because it limited the opponent's ability to attack.

"You can do more with a ball from your own lineout than you can from a free kick," White said.

"We know they deliberately have more numbers in the lineout on the opposition ball. They're more than content to give away the free kick and defend that situation than to defend the lineout.

"They especially like to do it when the opposition is in their own half. I know it is something Clive spoke about after the first test and Andy Cole was very aware of the situation in the second test.

"I think it helps us that Cole has refereed the All Blacks during the Lions series."

White said he gained some valuable insights from Woodward, whose team were beaten 3-0 by the All Blacks.

"It was very beneficial chatting to him. He's just spent a month doing battle with them. You have to get something out of that," said White, who had steered clear of criticising the visitors until speaking with Woodward.

The lineout is an undoubted strength of the South Africans with Bulls' duo Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha a formidable threat in the air.

Flanker Juan Smith and No 8 Joe Van Niekerk are also options when captain John Smit picks out a target.

Matfield, who calls the lineouts, promised Cole would be alerted if the All Blacks had too many numbers.

"The referee will hear from me if they do that," he said, before grudgingly expressing admiration for the All Blacks' lineout quality against the Lions.

"I thought they would struggle in the lineouts because there were some very good locks in the Lions side. But they dominated the Lions.

"That surprised me, but it was a credit to the All Blacks preparation, the forwards and their coaches.

"They did their homework but Bakkies (Botha) and myself are ready for them."

Meanwhile, the niggly qualities of halfback Enrico Januarie earned him a start against the All Blacks ahead of Fourie du Preez.

White believes Januarie can get in the face of counterpart Byron Kelleher and pivot Dan Carter as he did to the French and Wallabies.

"Ricky was very good in hurrying and pressuring (Frederic) Michalak when we played France," White said.

"Michalak was looking up a lot to see where Ricky was and he made several errors in dropping the ball or rushing his play.

"When we played Australia I thought Ricky had a similar impact on (George) Gregan and (Stephen) Larkham. He certainly got in among them and I am expecting him to do the same against the All Blacks."

A day after praising the Kelleher-Carter axis as superior to Justin Marshall and Andrew Mehrtens -- last year's starting combination in the All Blacks 26-40 defeat in Johannesburg -- White said the New Zealand duo could be vulnerable.

"I think they've played five or six tests as a combination, so they're not the most experienced around. If we can get an edge there because of that I think Ricky will give it to us," overlooking the fact the Cats halfback only made his debut in the first test of the season against Uruguay on June 11.

- NZPA