Jones gets in first jab against Springboks

BRISBANE - Eddie Jones has stirred the pot before Saturday's Mandela Challenge rugby test by suggesting South African coach Jake White will try to unsettle the Wallabies with "his old tricks".

Jones immediately renewed his rivalry with White yesterday by predicting the canny Springboks mentor would continue a trend of manipulating the media.

The Australian coach would not elaborate but was almost certainly referring to how White pulled the strings to his side's advantage before last year's Tri-Nations decider in Durban.

Among a number of contentious issues, White was fingered as the man who planted a story in the South African press there was Brumbies-NSW rift in the Wallabies ranks.

The Wallabies denied the division, allegedly sparked by the selection of NSW hooker Brendan Cannon ahead of incumbent Jeremy Paul, but were ambushed the next day in a painful 23-19 loss.

"Jake White is going to be up to his tricks this week, there's no doubt about that," Jones said in Brisbane.

"I think Jake's always very good at manipulating the media so he should have some fun with you this week."

White was not available for comment, but a Springboks spokesman scoffed at the predictions and accused Jones of being the pot that called the kettle black.

A customary week of verbal niggle should be a mere entree to the on-field battle at Telstra Stadium after both teams registered impressive wins over France in the past eight days.

The Wallabies, led by playmaking maestro Stephen Larkham, were at their attacking best in their helter-skelter 37-31 win over Les Bleus at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

But Jones felt White's team were the strongest Springbok outfit since Nick Mallett led them undefeated through the 1998 Tri-Nations.

He also rated their forwards the most confrontational in world rugby.

"They play like a traditional South African pack," he said.

"That's the clever thing that Jake White has done. He's restored the traditional values of SA rugby and added some smarts to it.

"It is a big test for the whole [Wallabies] side this week but certainly the forwards will have to come up to the mark."

Jones praised his often-maligned tight-five for its strong game against the physical French, which featured a vast improvement in mauling.

But the Springboks, led by huge back-rowers Danie Roussouw and Schalk Burger, bludgeoned the French in last week's 27-13 win in Port Elizabeth.

The Wallabies, likely to be without centre Stirling Mortlock (hamstring), will be bolstered by the return of Phil Waugh for Saturday's match.

It leaves the Australian selectors with a dilemma of whether to start Waugh at No 7 or keep their traditionally structured back row.

Rocky Elsom's selection gives the lineout a genuine third jumper but Waugh and George Smith are world-class flankers who naturally give more warrior-like accounts at the breakdown.

"Waughy's a first-class player. But whether he can start a game yet or play 80 minutes we're not quite sure," Jones said.

South Africa have not beaten the Wallabies in Australia since 1998.

- AAP