Rugby: Upset by Wales throws spanner in works

By Wynne Gray

Questions about the All Blacks' chances in the Tri-Nations series became more uncertain as they surveyed the form of rival Wallaby and Springbok sides.

The All Blacks demolished a mediocre French side 54-7 in a try-fest to inject themselves with an extra dose of confidence, but the curiosity was all about New Zealand's rating against the Boks.

The Tri-Nations series opener against the Springboks at Carisbrook on July 10 was anticipated to be the battle of the unbeaten, but that promotional line took a wild turn in Cardiff as Wales beat the Springboks for the first time in history.

The result also showed the danger of assumptions. In posting a staggering 175 points in twin tests, even against a woeful Italy, it was felt the Springboks were running into some good form.

All they ran into was a 19-29 loss, their first defeat in 13 tests against Wales, the sort of setback the All Blacks are so wary of after being untroubled against Samoa and France.

That Springbok result will not make any impact on spectator fervour for the Carisbrook test. No one will have to do much promotion.

The other Tri-Nations side, the Wallabies, regained some composure and backline rhythm against England to win 22-15 and maintain their unbeaten run this season.

Those topsy-turvey weekend results will have turned the embers under the Tri-Nations competition into a blast furnace in a fortnight - a series in which the All Blacks are seeking redemption for last season and a way forward to the World Cup.

After meeting the inadequate Samoan and French sides, the All Blacks need to compare their play against some of the stronger powers in world rugby. The Springboks are one, but they stumbled badly as Wales celebrated the opening of their new Millennium Stadium in style.

Did the result say more about Wales than the difficulties of playing in the Northern Hemisphere with a different style of referee like Ed Morrison? Or does it tell us more about the Springboks?

Have some of their players gone past their use-by date like the All Blacks last season? Their forwards were rattled by Wales, they looked jittery and the backline played with ponderous midfield inelegance.

"Strange," Taine Randell said of South Africa's fall. "I guess it makes it all that more interesting in Dunedin now. The Springboks could go either way. It could hurt their confidence or spark them up.

"Whatever it does, we would not be under any false sense of security for the test."