Springboks praise All Blacks depth; unveil their own

By DANIEL GILHOOLY

DURBAN - South Africa marvelled at the depth of the All Blacks before introducing a few classy back-ups of their own to an expanded squad for Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby test at Pretoria.

The Springboks will be forced to make at least two changes to the team who beat Australia 26-22 in Cape Town, with fullback Jaco van der Westhuyzen and centre Marius Joubert today ruled out with knee and shoulder injuries respectively.

Attacking livewire Brent Russell is likely to start at fullback after an inspiring display off the bench against the Wallabies while the recalled Andre Snyman is a leading candidate to replace Joubert.

Snyman is one of six players introduced to the squad this week, giving coach Rudolf Straeuli 26 to work with before he names his test team on Thursday morning.

Among the recalled players are athletic flanker Joe Van Niekerk, classy first five-eighth Andre Pretorius and exciting winger Ashwin Willemse. The others are Snyman tough lock Geo Cronje and hardened hooker John Smit while No 8 Bob Skinstad may also be called in this week, depending on fitness.

While Straeuli is unlikely to make changes to a side bouyed by conquering the Wallabies, the ability of those introduced underlines the depth he has developed this year through using a range of players through the early tests.

"We believe the players we've brought back are quality players and they'll play when the time is right," Straeuli said.

"We've identified these players on historic form and Super 12 form. They can play at this level."

All Blacks coach John Mitchell has also employed a rotational selection pattern so far this year but has differed by paying less heed to historical form.

He has divided opinion in New Zealand by leaving out proven test players such as fullback Christian Cullen, first five-eighth Andrew Mehrtens, loose forward Taine Randell and hooker Anton Oliver.

South African captain Corne Krige believed the All Blacks had looked impressive enough this year without them.

"I think they're in a healthy position if they can leave players out like that," Krige said.

"(No 8) Scott Robertson is another one who doesn't even feature at the moment. There must be a hell of a lot of talent there. Obviously the future is looking great for them."

Straeuli could empathise with the pressure Mitchell must have been under to leave out such proven names.

Cullen's 10 tries against South Africa in tests is twice as many as any other player while Mehrtens' 193 points is also well clear of anyone else.

"There have been a few interesting selections and a few players that have been left out," Straeuli said.

"Every coach is always looking for a better team. When it's World Cup year, you're under certain pressures because there are certain players who expect that they should be there.

"Like ourselves, they're always under pressure from the media and the public so it will be interesting to see how they go in the Tri-Nations and World Cup."

The All Blacks team will be named tomorrow after training twice today, again in hot conditions.

They made a curious last-minute switch of practice locations this morning, moving from the Durban High School Old Boys club to the Durban Crusaders ground.

The move, which All Blacks management would not explain, caught local media and even Durban Crusaders club members by surprise as they had not been informed the New Zealanders would use the ground.

Soon after arrival, All Blacks manager Tony Thorpe and the team's South African security officer walked a lap of the ground, looking for any prying eyes that shouldn't be there.

Springboks squad:

Backs: Brent Russell, Thinus Delport, Stefan Terblanche, Ashwin Willemse, Andre Snyman, Gcobani Bobo, De Wet Barry, Louis Koen, Andre Pretorius, Joost van der Westhuizen, Craig Davidson.

Forwards: Jaun Smith, Pedrie Wannenburg, Joe Van Niekerk, Wickus Van Heerden, Corne Krige (captain), Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Selborne Boome, Geo Cronje, Richard Bands, Lawrence Sephaka, Robbie Kempson, Daniel Coetzee, Dale Santon, John Smit.

- NZPA