Boks welcome Lomu challenge

By WYNNE GRAY

When Jonah Lomu was returned to the All Black squad yesterday his selection drew a public embrace from Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli.

It was a move Straeuli had predicted for Saturday's Tri-Nations test in Wellington, although he did overdo the welcome a bit.

"For us, a New Zealand side without Lomu is not a challenge so we are looking forward to playing against him," Straeuli said with a wide smile.

He probably hopes history will continue the pattern which shows Lomu has never scored a try in 11 tests against South Africa, a strange statistic given his 35 tries in 59 tests and reputation as one of the most devastating players in the world.

Once Lomu and Hurricanes colleague Tana Umaga were omitted from the squad which opened up against the Wallabies, Straeuli suggested it was a John Mitchell tactic to keep the pair hungry for this weekend.

He likened their axing to keeping dogs on a leash until they were ravenous.

Some of their appetite would have been appeased yesterday when the duo were restored to the 22-strong All Black group with lock Norm Maxwell, who missed the 12-6 victory at Christchurch because of a hamstring strain.

The trio that will drop out are Ben Blair, Daryl Gibson and Royce Willis.

Blair and Gibson will play for Canterbury in their Ranfurly Shield defence tomorrow against Marlborough. It was a chance to give the pair some much-needed rugby, said Mitchell.

When Blair was picked on the bench against the Wallabies, it was explained he had to cover fullback and goalkicking. Those reasons did not fit with the plans for the Springboks.

"With only seven reserves you can never cover all your bases properly, but we have decided Aaron Mauger will be cover for those two jobs this week," Mitchell said.

Maxwell and Lomu could be expected to start this test, with Lomu at a pinch able to start on either flank. Whether Umaga starts depend on whether he is ready or the coaches think Mark Robinson needs more rugby after he was frozen out of most of the Christchurch test.

The latest changes are part of Mitchell's plan to find 30 players ready to go to the World Cup next year. "There are both short and long-term goals and I don't think people have quite grasped that yet.

"It is ludicrous to think we will survive with the same 15 or 22 each week - it will jump up and bite us."

Mitchell said he also needed to keep players stimulated and under pressure so he could observe their reactions on the park or when they were stood down.

"They may not like it because they get caught up in the emotion of being selected or not, but it is all about contributions even if they are not picked.. They have got to make the shift mentally."

Three players unavailable for selection this week were Marty Holah, Taine Randell and Leon MacDonald. The two loose forwards would train this week to test their leg injuries.

MacDonald's future was still uncertain. He was still a 50-50 proposition for the offshore Tri-Nations tests.

Mitchell played for Waikato in 1994 when Straeuli was part of a Springbok side which defeated the province. The pair later duelled as coaches in Britain, where Straeuli led Bedford and Mitchell was at Sale.

"His Springboks will bring a very passionate, physical contest, that is their tendency," said Mitchell.

Straeuli will pick his side tomorrow with the only questions about whether Lawrence Sephaka or Ollie le Roux will play at loosehead prop and if AJ Venter is picked at lock.

Loose forward Corne Krige is expected to be captain after weekend revelations that he is being treated for a liver condition which requires him to be on constant medication.

THE TEAM

Christian Cullen, Doug Howlett, Caleb Ralph, Jonah Lomu, Mark Robinson, Tana Umaga, Aaron Mauger, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Byron Kelleher, Scott Robertson, Richard McCaw, Sam Broomhall, Reuben Thorne (capt), Simon Maling, Norm Maxwell, Chris Jack, Greg Somerville, Dave Hewett, Mark Hammett, Joe McDonnell, Tom Willis.