South African rugby faces crisis after another defeat

South African rugby is facing its biggest crisis since the country's emergence from apartheid-imposed isolation.

Back-to-back defeats by France and Scotland have left the Springboks looking anything but serious contenders for next year's World Cup in Australia.

And with a crunch clash against England looming at Twickenham this Sunday, coach Rudolf Straeuli knows his side must rapidly improve or he will find his position under threat.

"We know how we feel as South Africans," Straeuli said after watching his radically revamped side succumb to a 21-6 defeat at Murrayfield, Scotland's first win over South Africa since 1969.

"We don't walk away from that responsibility. We are going to England and we are going to stay together as a team. I know it's emotional, I think we should talk later in the week, I don't think we should say anything now."

Straeuli had changed more than half the team beaten 30-10 by France in Marseille. But his revamp had little effect as an experienced Scottish pack stamped its authority. Eleven points from the boot of former Highlanders and Otago back Brendan Laney and second-half tries from flanker Budge Pountney and winger Nikki Walker earned the Scots their victory.

Things could have been different if the South Africans, who had been lucky to go in at halftime with the score tied at 6-6, had taken advantage of their pressure early in the second period.



Scotland coach Ian McGeechan described his side's win as a historic day for Scottish rugby.

"We did it because a group of players raised their game to a new level," he said.

McGeechan, who together with his assistant Jim Telfer steered the Lions to a 2-1 test series success over South Africa in 1997, considered that Scotland had taken a much more measured approach.

"In the past we've been too guilty of trying to force the game. I thought that the selection of the rugby we played was pleasing."

* Wales could offer only a scrappy 32-21 win over Canada by way of a farewell to the inspirational Scott Quinnell in his final international yesterday.

The 31,000 Millennium Stadium crowd gave a standing ovation to the 30-year-old, one of the few world-class Welsh players of recent years, when he came on for the last 25 minutes as a replacement, his 52nd and final appearance for his country.

Tries from hooker Robin McBryde and centre Jamie Robinson, plus 22 points from a flawless kicking display by Stephen Jones, gave Wales the victory, but it was far from the convincing win they had wanted before facing the All Blacks this weekend.

Canada had beaten Wales 26-24 in Quinnell's first international in 1993 and had no intention of lying down. The boot of Jared Barker - who kicked 18 points - kept them in the match until the final whistle. Wales led 22-12 at halftime.

* Two defensive collapses at the end of each half allowed Argentina a comfortable 36-6 victory against Italy at Rome's Flamino Stadium. Italy had the better of the opening minutes, aggressively closing down the visitors' backline, and took a deserved lead through two Diego Dominguez penalty kicks.

Argentina responded with a combination of forward power and clever running by captain Lisandro Arbizu, scoring two tries to lead 15-6 at the interval.

It was a similar story in the second half, with Italy defending well before tries by Rolando Martin, Diego Albanese and Martin Durand allowed the visitors to romp away in the final 20 minutes.

- AGENCIES