Rugby: Bok hopes dive with Honiball in doubt

By Wynne Gray

Springbok hopes of a Tri-Nations turnaround against the All Blacks have taken a dip with reports that talismanic five-eighths Henry Honiball is struggling with an ankle injury.

While South Africa dealt with the fallout from Gary Teichmann's axing as Springbok captain, team officials were optimistic that the side's ebbing fortunes could be reversed with the return of the old guard.

New skipper Joost van der Westhuizen, Honiball, Andre Snyman, Brendan Venter, Adrian Garvey, Chris Rossouw and Ruben Kruger are veterans of successful past campaigns, and like rising star Bobby Skinstad, are all coming back from injury to increase Springbok belief for the next test in Pretoria.

But just as the people in the republic balanced their compassion for Teichmann's demise with the feel-good factor for the return of their experienced troops, came the Honiball revelation.

The Natal first five-eighths is the cornerstone of coach Nick Mallett's backline plans for the World Cup. He is also a very close friend and confidant of Teichmann and, apparently, was distressed when his buddy copped the selection bullet.

He told Mallett of that concern when the coach spoke to him about his decision before the public pronouncement that Teichmann had been dropped from the Tri-Nations squad. The pair had their conversation after Honiball left the field injured during Natal's weekend match with Border.

Sources said Honiball then told Mallett that his ankle injury, which had not seemed too serious to observers at the game, might prevent him playing against the All Blacks.

The question from rugby watchers in South Africa was whether Honiball's anxiety was more a protest against Teich-mann's axing than concern about his injury.

Honiball has played three times against the All Blacks at first five-eighths and the Springboks have won all three internationals. He had returned to top rugby in the last month after some serious injuries and had been in sharp form for Natal.

After Honiball raised his injury worries with Mallett, the coach sent him to Johannesburg to see a specialist.

Meanwhile, assistant Bok coach Alan Solomons claimed the return of proven Springboks and attention to second-phase possession would boost his side, and he implied that some intelligent cheating would also push the side towards better results in the home Tri-Nations matches.

"Currently we obtain second-phase possession too slowly and our backs can do little with the ball. We'll have to stay on our feet in the rucks - something the All Blacks do very well," he said.

"We'll also have to delay the All Blacks' and Wallabies' possession from the loose phases."

The All Blacks had produced a great first-half display against the Wallabies but had looked "somewhat at sea" in the second spell.

"They were much better than the Wallabies but it is evident they are not an invincible combination," he said.