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SYDNEY - As if tensions weren't already at breaking point, Wallabies halfback George Gregan added another edge to Saturday night's test against the Springboks when he suggested a Tri-Nations rugby series without South Africa.
The South Africans had angered their Australian and New Zealand counterparts -- and upset broadcasters -- when coach Jake White brought a second-string Springboks squad to Australasia for tests against the Wallabies and All Blacks.
And Gregan today stoked the fire by saying there were certainly other options that Australia and New Zealand could consider.
"I can't speak on behalf of South Africa, but a partnership ... if someone's not happy in a partnership, then obviously it's got to be dissolved and you've got to find a new way to move forward, and there's always been a really strong relationship between Australia and New Zealand," Gregan said.
"If that was to happen, you'd be able to find something which would work and it would give opportunities to a lot of the Pacific Islanders, other teams ... Argentina, who knows.
"But they'd be able to come up with another concept if they (the South Africans) wanted to align themselves with the northern hemisphere.
"But it's all a little bit hypothetical really at this stage."
South Africa had promised to bring a full-strength squad on tour, just as Australia and New Zealand did when they visited the republic last month, only to leave 20 first-choice players at home.
"You expect it from the northern-hemisphere nations but you don't expect it from your Sanzar partners. It's not in the spirit of the relationship," fired ARU supremo John O'Neill.
O'Neill warned the South African Rugby Union compensation may be sought as a result of lost gate takings for Saturday's match at Telstra Stadium and said he feared repercussions when Sanzar renegotiated a new broadcasting rights contract with News Ltd at the end of 2010.
The issue is expected to be discussed at a Sanzar meeting in Christchurch next week.
White further soured relations with the Wallabies this week when he accused the Australian scrum of cheating, after Wallabies forwards coach Michael Foley made a similar accusation against the Springboks before the Cape Town Test three weeks ago.
Speculation has been rife for more than a year that the South Africans want out of the Tri-Nations and Super 14 competitions amid claims they feel the most disadvantaged of the three competing nations, mostly due to exhausting travel commitments and their African time zone, which is similar to Europe -- and eight hours behind Australia.
There has long been talk that South Africa are keen to align themselves with the northern-hemisphere teams, although they recently recommitted to Sanzar, saying they are in the southern-hemisphere partnership for the long haul.
The idea of a competition involving only Australian and New Zealand teams, and possibly some from the Pacific Islands, has also been floated and Gregan -- one of the most respected opinions in world rugby -- said it had merit.
Even before Gregan's qualified support for a South African-free Tri-Nations, the Springboks were stinging from criticism over White's decision to rest his best players.
Acting Springboks captain Bobby Skinstad said it was unfair to label the tourists a B grade outfit and warned they had all the motivation in the world to perform.
"If we're reading that the 20 guys left behind are in preparation for a World Cup, then there's 10 spots left for the rest of us," Skinstad said.
Meanwhile, in a major boost to the Wallabies' World Cup hopes, match-winning fullback Chris Latham passed a fitness test on his injured knee and was cleared to make his return to club football.
Latham will play his first match of the year on Saturday for Gold Coast against Norths in the Queensland premier rugby competition.
He may be back for Australia's Bledisloe Cup decider against New Zealand in Auckland on July 21.
- AAP
