Beware of the vanity trap against Springboks

By WYNNE GRAY



The All Blacks have beaten the Bug, now for the Boks. Tonight's final domestic test in Christchurch is the reverse of last year's World Cup.

Once the All Blacks demolished the Springbok forwards in that tournament quarter-final they could not back it up against an inferior Wallaby pack in the sudden-death semifinal.

Having attended to Australia last week, the All Blacks must harness that self-belief to continue the momentum rather than fall into the vanity trap which spiralled them out of the World Cup.

Those alarm bells had All Blacks use sports psychologist Gilbert Enoka again this week as a sounding board, another reassuring voice in their quest to complete an unbeaten home schedule.

"We have got no excuses, we have prepared well and we have come off a big game [Wallabies] and I think psychologically that's important for the players to realise that and I'm sure they do," coach Graham Henry said.

"They need to build for another big game and it could be the hardest game of the season, I am picking. We have got to prepare well, we have got to prepare well mentally for this game and that process is under way.

"It is a natural thing after you come off a big game, it takes you longer to get to the same focus that you were the week before. For Australia we had a couple of weeks to build and the Pacific Islands game was part of that buildup, this week we have had six days to build."

After several false dawns about a revival, the feeling seemed to be that the Springboks were on the verge of turning around their fortunes.

As Henry proclaimed a clean bill of health for his side after the gastric flu attacks, captain Tana Umaga coughed beside him to add a light touch after the side's last training at Jade Stadium.

The surface will be firm and the forecast is for fine but cold weather, which should ensure the remaining 2000 seats are sold.

Springbok coach Jake White said his side had brought an attitude that they had nothing to lose.

"The All Blacks are at home and have had the wood on the Springboks for a number of years. I asked my team what they were worried about.

"The All Blacks beat us last year at Loftus by 50 points but this is all about us coming here and having a real crack. Come on let's play, it is a fresh approach. We had had our training camps and a few tests. It is a long haul but we are ready.

"Then when we get home we get you at Ellis Park which is the game you hate so this match is huge for us."

White has made selections a priority this season. Like his opposite Graham Henry he was a schoolteacher and shows the same detailed traits which have brought Henry to the top of the All Black coaching staff.

The All Black tasks tonight are the same as ever when they play the Boks.

They must deal with the forward power of the tourists, sack their lineout leapers early so driving play is negated and make first-up tackles count.


Discipline, like the concession of a solitary second-half penalty last week, will be critical because of Percy Montgomery's renewed marksmanship as he duels with another left-footer, Daniel Carter. The All Blacks should target young halfback Fourie du Preez, who looks a little edgy.

If the All Blacks can build several phases around quick possession and change the angles of their attack, the suspicion is that the Bok defence will get dragged out of alignment.

Clinical passing under pressure through the flat All Black midfield should find gaps from the rush defence which is a trait of De Wet Barry and Marius Joubert.

Using Joe Rokocoko or Doug Howlett as an extra runner or decoy from the wing should help that deception.

Five-eighths Carlos Spencer can also apply the blowtorch if his tactical kicking is sharp.