High voltage, low output

By WYNNE GRAY

The Wallabies' laboured 29-9 win against the Springboks was a fizzer - before the trashtalk erupted with accusations of persistent foul play against the losers.

Neither side looked to have improved much from their opening Tri-Nations test. Only the blunting impact of night rugby will allow both to reduce their losing margins against the All Blacks.

Although their playing standards were low, the Wallabies and Boks brought some high-voltage energy to the media conferences after the Brisbane test.

The Springboks were described as a "disgrace to international rugby" and accused of eye-gouging, biting and spitting. They leave today for their final Tri-Nations test against the All Blacks on Saturday in Dunedin.

Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli was highly indignant at claims his side went out with an intentionally violent battleplan.

"We came here with no malice. If they make allegations, they must back these up ... we just came here to play," he said.

It was another bitter chapter in the Springboks' recent history and captain Corne Krige was accused of setting the tone for the foul play.

He later admitted spitting out a mouthful of blood but said he apologised when some accidentally landed on Wallaby flanker Phil Waugh.

A different interpretation came from Wallaby captain George Gregan, who said of the spitting: "It happened a couple of times during the match ... I know it happened."

Twice last season Krige was involved in serious foul play accusations. He was cited but cleared of biting All Black flanker Scott Robertson in the Tri-Nations test at Wellington and there were also claims All Black wing Doug Howlett had been eye-gouged.

Then, in the November test against England, television coverage spotted Krige kneeing, stamping, elbowing and punching a number of opponents in a spiteful test. Krige escaped censure because the citing time limit had elapsed.

New Zealand referee Paddy O'Brien was in charge of that test and sent Springbok lock Jannes Labuschagne off for a late tackle. O'Brien refereed the Suncorp Stadium test on Saturday and sinbinned front rowers Danie Coetzee and Robbie Kempson for professional fouls.

Kempson was later cited for a dangerous tackle which put Wallaby No 8 Toutai Kefu in hospital with spinal concussion, an injury which may see him miss the return Bledisloe Cup test in a fortnight.

Lock Bakkies Botha was cited by New Zealand match commissioner Steve Hinds for "attacking the face of a player" after a late scuffle with Wallaby hooker Brendan Cannon.

The All Blacks, who assemble in Dunedin today, will have watched their Tri-Nations foes with wry amusement. Nothing either side produced will have dented their confidence and they know all the inspection will be on the Boks' behaviour after this latest furore.

Referee Peter Marshall will control the Carisbrook test and he has never been one of the South Africans' favourite match officials.

After the Springboks' latest drab effort, comments from Straeuli about the All Blacks and other top contenders look rather lame.

He suggested the All Blacks may have peaked too soon for the World Cup, England would be troubled by their ageing team and old strategies while the Wallabies, Springboks and France were still experimenting.

Many would say that search will remain futile after their record 52-16 loss to the All Blacks a fortnight ago.

That defeat, Krige claimed, was a huge motivation for Springbok redress.

The side had been told to keep reminding themselves of the shame they felt from that result to make sure it never happened again.

In the seven Tri-Nations tests in New Zealand, the All Blacks have been victorious on all but one occasion against South Africa.

The Springboks' solitary win was the 13-3 margin in Wellington in 1998.

They have played once at Carisbrook, in 1998 when they were beaten 28-0 with the All Blacks captained by Taine Randell, who yesterday reconfirmed he was leaving New Zealand to play for the Saracens club in England.