Lomu a pawn in coaches' byplay

By WYNNE GRAY

Rudolf Straeuli's mock pleas did not work with John Mitchell.

After all the posturing, all the bluster from the Springbok coach about his side not facing the real deal unless Jonah Lomu was selected, Mitchell announced an unchanged All Black team for Saturday's test.

Mitchell's selection response has thrown Straeuli's bluff straight back at him, declaring the All Blacks can beat the Springboks without one of the most devastating attackers in world rugby.

His retort has asked where the Springboks' credibility will be if they cannot beat a Lomu-less All Black combination.

Mitchell brought Lomu, Tana Umaga and Norm Maxwell back into his squad for the second Tri-Nations test, but that was as far as all three got when the starting side was revealed today.

Maxwell was supposed to have recovered from the hamstring strain which kept him out of the Christchurch action against the Wallabies. But it was soon apparent yesterday at training that he was still favouring his leg.

As a precaution, Royce Willis had been asked to join the squad, so he goes into the reserves and Simon Maling retains a spot in the starting line-up.

Hurricanes duo Lomu and Umaga will join Byron Kelleher in the reserves.

Umaga spent only a day at the All Blacks training camp in Hanmer because of his knee ligament problems, was deemed to be underdone for the opening Bledisloe Cup test and dispatched to club rugby.

Lomu was given a heavy schedule of conditioning work but excused from weekend club rugby.

They both made the next stage when brought into the squad this week, but have yet to persuade Mitchell they are indispensable.

Mitchell's decision to retain his starting XV has further upset Straeuli's theory that the All Blacks coach was keeping the star backs on ice for the duel with their traditional foe.

Instead, Mitchell has commended his Christchurch XV for their resilience, courage and defensive skills last week in appalling conditions and rewarded them with repeat selection.

He does not want to break up a winning team and also wants to assess them further against a different-style opposition and, hopefully, in better conditions.

It is a move which will have fooled most conjecture, which had Maxwell, until he aggravated his injury, and one of the Hurricanes expected to trot out on their home patch.

Mitchell's comments about continuing his interchange policies seemed to indicate a change or two for his ninth test in charge of the All Blacks.

But then he also warned that on many occasions, players had to accept they were still contributing to the squad even if they were not chosen to start.

"They have got to make that shift mentally," Mitchell told the Herald.

"Most important is how we grow as a team and within that is all about players' skills and contribution."

The All Blacks had taken a decent step forward in Christchurch.

A number who had suffered before against the Wallabies and been described as "chokers" had made a mental breakthrough with that 12-6 victory.

Saturday would deliver a Springbok side with traditional values.

"Straeuli does not want any prima donnas, he has chosen a captain who has respect and throws everything into a game," Mitchell said.

"They have had a good build-up. I think they are on to something, they are working well together and look to have a lot of faith in their coach and ideas."