Rugby: Honiball rests injured ankle until Cup

By Wynne Gray

Springbok playmaker Henry Honiball will miss the rest of the Tri-Nations series in a desperate attempt to be fit for the World Cup.

Honiball limped off while playing for Natal against Border at the weekend but many felt he was suffering a minor ankle injury.

After the five-eighths told national coach Nick Mallett he might miss the next test with the All Blacks, some felt that was more of a protest from Honiball that his close friend Gary Teichmann had been axed as Bok captain than anything to do with his health.

But yesterday Honiball said the theory that his ankle injury was a smokescreen for his displeasure was incorrect. He still disagreed with Mallett's axing of Teichmann, but said it was the coach's right to pick whomever he wanted.

Honiball made a trip from his Durban farm to Johannesburg to see a specialist and was advised the ankle problems were caused by chronic scar tissue.

He was given three options. Have an immediate operation but risk not recovering properly for the fourth global tournament, have cortisone injections to dull the pain but risk further damage or have a complete rest.

Honiball chose the final action and will miss the August 8 international against the All Blacks at Pretoria and the Springboks' last Tri-Nations test with the Wallabies a week later.

The five eighths had only returned to top rugby in the last month but Mallett had made it clear he would be a key figure in his plans to revive a disjointed backline.

Now the coach will have to turn to Gaffie du Toit as first five eighths, a player who was very average against the All Blacks at Carisbrook and spent most of that international kicking away possession. Mallett will also have to decide between Braam van Straaten or Jannie de Beer as a deputy.

* Tom Bowman is ready to return from Wallaby banishment a better player, a better trainer and a little more committed after learning the tough lessons of being dropped. The giant lock is almost certain to be recalled today when Australian coach Rod Macqueen names his squad to travel to South Africa.