Ten reasons the All Blacks need not worry about the Springboks on Saturday:
1. They were stone cold last in the Tri Nations.
2. Look where their teams finished in the Super 12.
3. Samoa were always going to fold after their huge effort against England.
4. The Springboks hardly ever beat the All
Blacks when there are neutral referees and neutral house-maids.
5. Man does not live on belligerence alone.
6. Scratching, biting and gouging are vigorously punished at the World Cup.
7. All great World Cup sides have been led by men of honour.
8. They are half a team - a forward pack in search of a back line.
9. Nelson Mandela will not be in Melbourne.
10. Nor will Susie.
* * *
Tapumanaia Lautasi, the Sydney labourer whose botched tackle on South Africa's Louis Koen secured him a place in rugby infamy, partly blamed Suncorp Stadium caterers for his drunken escapade. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that besides apologising to Samoa and the Springboks for his alcohol-fuelled dash from the sidelines, the 29-year-old said he'd drunk eight beers in less than an hour, couldn't remember the event, and it was partly the caterers' fault for serving him too much beer. He could remember that he was on the way to the toilet when he launched himself at Koen. Lautasi, who was fined $1380, admitted that he wet himself as he lay unconscious in front of the 48,496 Brisbane crowd. He was taken to Royal Brisbane Hospital, where he was kept for an hour.
