Springboks coach labels playing surface unsafe

Springboks rugby coach Jake White has raised major concerns over the safety of the playing surface for tomorrow's Tri-Nations test but the All Blacks are happy to continue.

After inspecting the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenberg today, White deemed the in-goal areas to be a safety risk for his players.

It is understood he even threatened to stop his players taking the field unless changes were made.

Springboks media manager Vusi Kama said White's concerns centred on the in-goal areas which he felt were too close to the synthetic athletics track.

There is also astroturf covering the concrete shot-put and discus circles in the in-goal areas.

Kama said White asked ground staff to make the areas safer, which he was assured would happen before tomorrow's kickoff (1am NZT). It wasn't known what those changes would entail.

Referee Chris White, of England, would make a final decision on whether the ground was fit for play.

The 39,000-capacity ground, which was built for soccer and athletics in 1999, is hosting its first major rugby test.

The All Blacks observed it was shorter by several metres than a regulation field, and also slightly narrower, with astroturf covering the hard surface within 1m of either touchline.

But All Blacks manager Darren Shand said there were no safety concerns after they inspected the ground today, saying it was in better condition than other venues they had played at around the world.

"We're quite satisfied the field's in good nick," he said.

The All Blacks were aware that the Springboks coach had raised safety concerns about the playing surface.

- NZPA