Bok fans find little to cheer

By WYNNE GRAY in Cape Town

While rugby's immediate bloodletting is coming from the Lions camp, the doom encircling the Springboks is growing.

Flying to the opening Tri-Nations test in Cape Town, our aircraft carried a number of South African rugby supporters who had been to the Lions series and were extremely glum about their national side under new coach Harry Viljoen.

The public dramas were many - the captaincy switch from Andre Vos to Bobby Skinstad; the exit of assistant coach Andre Markgraaf; the removal of senior players - and the Bok supporters suggested there had to be many other hidden troubles.

That concern was echoed when the plane landed. South African newspapers were in widespread disapproval about the fractious state of the Springboks and their lacklustre form in the shared series against France and a stuttering win against Italy.

"Emotions are high and expectations are low after a winter in which controversy and recrimination, the twin forces that outwardly govern SA rugby, have been to the fore," said one report.

In another article, the same Sunday Times sports editor wrote of the "nonsense and drivel of the Springboks and their self-absorbed management."

Several days earlier, that pessimism had greeted the All Blacks, who did their best to talk up the magnitude of their challenge at Newlands on Sunday morning (NZT). They had been taken apart at Pretoria last season and said they were wary of wounded Springboks. Similar verbal sparring has greeted this annual competition since it began in 1996.

The All Blacks have trained lightly since moving to their retreat in the Cape as they try to work the jetlag out of their system. But they cannot relax too much as they need to reinforce good habits after a three-week layoff since the test against France.

Blindside flanker Reuben Thorne was the only absentee. He had a slight ear infection before leaving New Zealand and the long flight aggravated the pain.

Thorne stayed back at the hotel while his teammates mixed in some gym work and ball skills. Prop Carl Hayman and hooker Mark Hammett were both apparently back in action after injuries that troubled them at the training camp in Palmerston North.

Information on today's scheduled practice may also have to be second-hand because initial inquiries about the time and venue produced answers about an ultra-private session. The All Blacks may have developed a bad case of siege mentality like the Boks or are just being cautious.

The side will be picked midweek but suggestions were that Andrew Mehrtens would be paired with Justin Marshall, with Jeff Wilson at fullback and Doug Howlett at wing.