Rugby: Mallett defends choice of rookies

South Africa are prepared for their inexperienced halves combination of Dave Van Hoesslin and Gaffie du Toit to be targeted by the All Blacks in Saturday's first Tri-Nations rugby test at Carisbrook in Dunedin.

Springbok coach Nick Mallett, who confirmed his starting line-up yesterday, said that with his first-choice inside-back combination of Joost van der Westhuizen and Henry Honiball recovering from injury, he had little option but to develop a new pairing close to the scrum.

While South Africa have arrived in Dunedin with an air of determination to turn around their shock 19-29 loss to Wales, Mallett made it clear he was not afraid to gamble against the All Blacks.

"For sure the All Blacks will look at targeting our halves because they're up against the best combination in the world in Justin Marshall and Andrew Mehrtens," he said.

Merhtens played his 30th test for New Zealand against France in Wellington, while Marshall will equal Graeme Bachop's record of 31 tests for New Zealand as the most-capped halfback when he runs on to Carisbrook.

"With Joost and Henry Honiball out, whichever half combination I chose was always going to be inexperienced," Mallett said.

"If I chose Werner Swanepoel and Braam Van Straaten, and I didn't learn much from their performance against Wales because the forwards were under so much pressure, then they have as much experience as Dave and Gaffie.

"Dave and Gaffie have played about six or seven games for South Africa and Werner and Braam have played about the same number of games too.

"But in the end, how else do these players gain experience than by playing games at this level?"

Mallett was banking on a far more responsible showing from his forward pack and the experience of Pieter Muller and Japie Mulder in the centres to compensate for the raw hands in the pivotal roles.

He dismissed the loss to Wales as an aberration, saying the travel factor and South Africa's underestimation of the Welsh determination was a big part in their downfall.

"I think the scrummaging against Wales was completely unacceptable, and I don't believe the Welsh scrum is anything like the All Blacks' scrum, which is far more powerful.

"The players understand they've got two Tri-Nations games here and in Australia to prove themselves or they just won't go to the World Cup."

That alone should motivate the Springboks to rise against what they believe are a confident team of All Blacks.

Mallett yesterday officially confirmed the test team. There are six changes to the side who lost to Wales.

There are also four changes to the reserves' bench, with midfield back Robbie Fleck, Van Straaten, Swanepoel, lock Selbourne Boome and prop Willie Meyer all named.

Captain Gary Teichmann will lead South Africa for a record 36th time, while prop Os du Randt plays his first test since facing Scotland in December 1996. - NZPA