Dalton back in Boks frame for All Blacks test

South Africa are seriously considering recalling James Dalton for next week's Tri-Nations test at Newlands against the All Blacks.

Dalton, a former Springbok hooker, has been languishing in the provincial backwaters since John Smit became a regular in the national squad.

Dalton last played for the Boks in 1998 against England and was part of the 1995 World Cup victory.

A return to the Test squad would see him team up again with Joost van der Westhuizen and Mark Andrews, the last of the class of '95 still in the Bok side.

Dalton had a solid Super 12 with the Bulls, captaining them to victory in their final game of the competition against semifinalists Cats.

With Smit now injured and his back-up, Lukas van Biljon, considered a bit raw for a Test against the All Blacks, 29-year-old Dalton has come into the picture.

Springbok team spokesperson Mark Keohane said nothing had yet been decided on Dalton, but that if matters deteriorated, it would be logical to look at the veteran hooker.

Smit's injury was one of several which have disrupted the Boks' preparations for the Tri-Nations, which begins on July 21.

Gaffie du Toit and Albert van den Berg have been ruled out of the Tri-Nations because of injuries. Others who did not take part in training were Marius Joubert, Johann van Niekerk and Johan Ackermann.

A recall for Dalton would not be so outrageous. The Boks need a solid scrum and although Bok coach Harry Viljoen refused to be drawn on the subject, the feeling persists in South Africa that the All Blacks are vulnerable up front.

The return of Cobus Visagie to the scrum will have a major impact. He stood out during an intense scrumming session and is likely to team up again with WP team-mate Robbie Kempson in the front row.

Visagie said there would be no extra pressure just because the Boks were playing the All Blacks. "When you go into any match, it is part of your brief as a member of the tight five to dominate the opposition," he said.

The Springbok scrum was poor in the three Tests this season. Both tighthead props, Willie Meyer and Etienne Fynn, struggled. The team hopes Visagie's scrumming expertise will stabilise this part of their game.

Following yesterday's practice it looks as though Andre Vos, who lost the captaincy to Bobby Skinstad, will now also lose his place in the starting line-up to Corne Krige.

Outside of the Bok squad, Rassie Erasmus suffered a setback in his bid to win back favour with Viljoen and the selectors.

The ace flanker, axed from the Tri-Nations squad last week, has been forced to withdraw from the Free State Currie Cup team this weekend.

Erasmus hurt a foot when he was trampled during training this week.

- INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS (SOUTH AFRICA)