Springboks chuckle at Henry's call for 'sympathy'

Try telling the Springboks that the All Blacks were harshly treated this week by the Tri-Nations rugby draw and wait for the laughter.

Coach Jake White and veteran fullback Percy Montgomery couldn't suppress their grins as they reacted to All Blacks coach Graham Henry's claim that South Africans should "feel sorry" for the tourists as they chase their first win in the Republic in three years.

"Sympathy for what? If it comes to travelling the South African team's had it a lot worse than New Zealand and Australia," Montgomery said.

"We were nearly five weeks away from home, so I don't think they've got anything to cry about."

The All Blacks have never been asked to play in New Zealand and South Africa in the space of one week since the Tri-Nations began in 1996.

Twice they have played in South Africa a week after facing the Wallabies in Sydney -- in 2002 when they scraped home 30-23 in Durban and in 2004 when they lost 26-40 at Johannesburg's Ellis Park.

White, whose team were away for five weeks for two losses to the Wallabies and one to the All Blacks, could barely contain himself when reminded of Henry's comments.

"It was very rough on them. They played in Auckland and got to head straight to Sydney, they weren't in Dunedin (where the Springboks have had to play) and they sent a team out early," White said.

"If he thinks that's rough he should spend five weeks away with a group of players and you have weekends off in another country.

"Any guy who signed the deal off that we have where we spend five weeks, they (the All Blacks) have two weeks away and Australia one, there's no doubt that we've copped the hardest draw."

Not only that, but White was hit by the news that in-form flanker Juan Smith was almost certain to miss Sunday's test due to injury.

Just as White was rejoicing that his horror run of injuries could be over, Smith suffered a thigh strain suffered at training today.

Later medical advice was that Smith be ruled out, although White was yet to name a replacement.

"He's (Smith) one of the stars of the season, in the Super 14 and Tri-Nations he's been one of the form players," White lamented.

Earlier, White confirmed just one change from their 18-20 loss to the Wallabies in Sydney on August 5 -- second five-eighth Jean de Villiers in for Wynand Olivier.

It meant three changes to the starting lineup from the All Blacks' 35-17 win in Wellington last month: de Villiers for Olivier, lock Johann Muller for Albert van den Berg and wing Akona Ndungane for Breyton Paulse.

The All Blacks trained without incident today at their base at Centurion, just outside Pretoria.

White admitted it was a tough assignment for the All Blacks this week on South Africa's high veldt, which Henry acknowledged by bringing in 11 fresh players to the starting side.

"Any guy who has travelled that distance would appreciate that it is difficult. But they are sitting in a nice position where they have won the competition and they can blood the next batch of players," White said.

And there was enough time for one more dig at his coaching opposite.

Henry yesterday put the heat on Irish referee Alan Lewis to carefully police minor stoppages in play amid suspicions that the Springboks feigned injury to slow down the game in Wellington.

"Considering he is playing at altitude I'm sure he would like to play as slowly as he can, so that comment might just shoot him in the foot," White said.

South Africa:

Percy Montgomery, Akona Ndungane, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Jacques Cronje, Juan Smith, Solly Tyibilika, Victor Matfield, Johann Muller, CJ van der Linde, John Smit (captain), Os du Randt.

Reserves:

Chiliboy Ralepelle, BJ Botha, Albert van den Berg, Joe van Niekerk, Ruan Pienaar, Wynand Olivier, Andre Pretorius.

- NZPA