Coaches put the case for the defence

Referee Joel Jutge looms as a pivotal figure as the illegal defence debate played out its last rites ahead of tonight's test.

The regular pre-test briefings with Frenchman Jutge will have carried more weight than usual this week, with All Blacks coach Graham Henry and Springboks opposite Jake White sure to have honed in on the Springboks' rushing defensive method.

The All Blacks have made a point of staying out of pre-test verbal battles this year but assistant coach Wayne Smith twice this week accused the visitors of employing defenders to block New Zealand support runners off the ball.

Smith also said the South African defensive line sometimes stood up to 1m over the offside line to fool match officials.

Henry indicated Jutge was made aware of this analysis when asked what issues were discussed at yesterday's meeting.

"They're obvious to those who are on the sharp end of the game in the media," Henry said.

"You don't need me to tell you what those are. It was a good discussion."

White, who refused to respond to Smith's accusations on Wednesday, yesterday said he discussed the blocking issue with Jutge.

"It's important to understand that if there are legitimate [New Zealand] decoys ... the chances are you're going to get tackled. In the meeting [with Jutge], no problem." The offside allegations also received a direct response from White.

"When you border on the offside line you also border on the onside line. We just border on the onside line," he said.

If Jutge doesn't crack down on any perceived illegalities, All Blacks captain Tana Umaga said it would be up to his players to adapt, something they did to a certain degree in the 22-16 loss at Cape Town three weeks ago.

"It's obvious that they understand our power out wide, which is why they try to stop the supply getting out there. We still believe we can get the ball wide," Umaga said.

"If we make breaks we need to finish them off. We need to be clinical enough but also composed enough that if the opportunity's not there, then we have the patience to attack where they are weak again."

Umaga said the Springboks' defensive innovations reminded him of when the Crusaders successfully introduced new defensive ploys early in the Super 12 competition's history.

"It's only when you start playing against it and finding ways to crack it that they'll probably change."

- NZPA