Springboks on cusp of new home record

DURBAN - Jake White orchestrated the Springboks' spiking of an eight-match losing streak against the All Blacks last year and now counterpart Graham Henry has a chance to exact some revenge in Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby clash in Cape Town.

White's Springboks are one match away from setting a new record as the most successful team on home soil.

South Africa's 22-16 defeat of the Wallabies last Saturday took White's unbeaten run at home to 10 matches, which equals the previous best -- eight wins and two draws -- set between 1961 and 1963.

At Loftus Versfeld the Springboks eclipsed former coach Nick Mallett's home record, which ended with nine wins -- a run ended by the All Blacks in 1997 at the same ground.

White said he had not realised his team had equalled the record with nine wins and a draw (against France last month).

"I think that's fantastic. This team has achieved so much already. They've won a series against Ireland and against France.

'They've effectively won a series against Australia and they've won the Tri-Nations.

"I know our away record is something that has to improve, but at home we are becoming a difficult team to beat and that was one of our first goals. We wanted to ensure teams did not come here and leave with wins," he said.

White's record is tarnished by the fact he has no wins from five starts against the six top teams away from home.

On home ground under White the Springboks have beaten Ireland (2), Wales, New Zealand (2004), Australia (3), Uruguay and France.

- NZPA