Boks face selection poser

All Black first five-eighths candidates Leon MacDonald and Luke McAlister train in Dunedin yesterday. Picture / Mark Mitchell

The last time Springbok coach Jake White replaced Breyton Paulse it created a firestorm of controversy about politics invading sport.

South Africa Rugby Union chairman Brian van Rooyen over-ruled the decision because there were insufficient black players in the side to play England last November, White threatened to resign, then Paulse was embarrassed to be reinstated.

But there is no comeback for Paulse for this Saturday's pivotal Tri-Nations test in Dunedin; he has been banned for three weeks for kicking out at Wallaby prop Al Baxter.

On his arrival in Dunedin yesterday, White described that judicial decision as "unbelievable" and another example of Sanzar's need to review its citing procedure.

Whatever the rights or wrongs of the case, White has been left with a selection dilemma.

In this Tri-Nations he has created a successful new midfield pairing of Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie, instead of the old stagers de Wet Barry and Marius Joubert.

However, one of the more experienced duo will be required against the All Blacks in Dunedin.

It is a tasty puzzle for White to solve when he picks his side tomorrow. Does he break up the midfield which has overseen three Tri-Nations victories or does he perhaps try to use Joubert on the wing?

If he breaks up his midfield, who is shunted to the wing, how does that affect the combination and who would be best to combat the All Blacks?

"We have got a couple of guys we think we can try there and the way we play when we get to second, third or fourth phase, whether you have 14 on your back or 12 you just interchange.

"I am going to have to move the combinations around and I think it is a balance between experience.

"It is a big test for us and we can't be too easy about the fact that the guy we bring in adds a bit of confidence as well.

"I am a bit reluctant to move him [de Villiers] away but it is not only about the interests of Jean de Villiers, it is about the interests of the team as well."

A clue or a red herring from White about his quandary?

De Villiers and Fourie have played a great deal of rugby on the wing and White originally chose Fourie ahead of Paulse for the England test last year because of his ability to defuse crosskicks.

That would mean the return at centre of Joubert, someone who needs games to go his way to stay in tune, a player who is just returning from injury and may not have played a great deal with de Villiers.

If de Wet Barry was preferred at second five-eighths, he would bring plenty of attitude and defiance. He would aim up at likely All Black five-eighths Leon MacDonald but not bring a great deal of subtlety to his play.

But the Boks have made attitude one of their great weapons during this Tri-Nations. Their belligerent, relentless mindset has helped them to three hard-fought victories.

"We are a buoyant team, we have discovered the snowball effect of enjoyment," captain John Smit said. "We have shown a lot of character."

Carisbrook had been a winless venue for the Boks on all six visits since 1921, Smit said, but the Tri-Nations champions had not arrived with any defeatist attitude for this weekend.

"We have not played a lot of good rugby yet but we have defended well, we have squeezed out wins and we can play a lot better with the ball."

White spoke endearingly of the rugby passion he felt in coming to New Zealand, about the passengers and aircrew who had chivvied the Springboks about their impending fate in Dunedin.

He also praised the patience of people who put up with delays because of the Springboks' vast amount of luggage. It then staggered him to discover that Carisbrook was not a sellout for a match which could decide this year's series.

He said this weekend presented the greatest challenge for modern rugby players - trying to beat the All Blacks in their own backyard.

No one had expected the Springboks to win the Tri-Nations last year, to beat Ireland as well, come back from a big defeat in Australia or beat the All Blacks this season at Newlands. Saturday was another of those challenges. "I suppose that is why all South Africans get born - to play the All Blacks," White chirped.

He would not push too much training into his side before their final Tri-Nations match. This week was all about recovering well from the travel and getting their minds sorted to defend their title.

"This is all-or-nothing stuff," White said.

The Springbok coach thought Luke McAlister would be the replacement All Blacks first five-eighths, a belief he was prepared to back up with a small wager. It was news to him, though, that Sitiveni Sivivatu had been ruled out with injury and replaced by Doug Howlett.

* All Blacks v Springboks, Carisbrook, Dunedin. 7.30pm Saturday.