Springbok chaos lingers

By CHRIS RATTUE

Chaos continued in the lead-up to Saturday's Tri Nations clash in Dunedin, with heated exchanges flying between the South African and Australian camps.

The Springboks arrived in Dunedin yesterday with their rugby reputation in tatters and having to fend off accusations of thuggery.

All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu said though he did not expect illegal tactics from the Springboks, the New Zealanders would be on red alert.

"We're playing for the jersey and it's a proud jersey so we generally don't take a backward step," he said.

"But you can't afford to try to sort things out by yourself or you'll find yourself getting into trouble. You can always try and go to the referee."

Wallaby captain George Gregan yesterday criticised the suspension of Springbok lock Bakkies Botha as too lenient. Springbok manager Gideon Sam suggested the Australians were "sissies".

Wallaby hooker Brendan Cannon had paraded a bite mark on his shoulder to an Australian Rugby Union photographer after the match. Botha, the alleged culprit, was later suspended for eight weeks for another offence - attacking Cannon's face.

The state of Springbok rugby was summed up when they called in 33-year-old uncapped Bulls prop Christo Bezuidenhout to replace the suspended Robbie Kempson. The versatile Lawrence Sephaka will start on Saturday night with loosehead Bezuidenhout on the bench.

The Springboks have also lost outside back Gus Theron to injury, meaning the struggling Stefan Terblanche may retain his wing spot.

John Mitchell and co are unlikely to buy heavily into the violence debate - including Wallaby accusations of South African biting, eye-gouging and spitting - when they announce the test line-up today.

The All Blacks are set to recall Leon MacDonald to the bench, and under-pressure lock Ali Williams could hold his place. But selection matters are paling compared with the aftermath of the bitter test in Brisbane.

Gregan said: "Personally, I can't see how you can get eight weeks for attacking someone's eyes. I think that's probably the last thing you can do in rugby."

But Sam told Australia's ABC radio that the claims of violence were "totally unacceptable" and "unnecessarily damaging our reputation as a rugby-playing nation. It's something that we never do when other teams visit us".

"We're going into a country that understands tough rugby and that's what we talk about, we play tough rugby. We're never going to play like a bunch of sissies."

Whatever the All Blacks might say in public, they must steel themselves for a South African backlash.

The Springboks have little more than individual determination to fall back on. The proud rugby nation may be stumbling, but it is not known for lying down.

Coach Rudolf Straeuli appears to have little option other than trying the skilled Andre Pretorius at first-five eighths because Louis Koen's goalkicking does not offset his static game.

The All Blacks trained at Logan Park minus Caleb Ralph and Ben Blair, released to Canterbury for their match against Fiji tomorrow.

Though the official line will be that the players need rugby action, it could be the beginning of the end for Ralph.

After playing against England in Wellington, the constant reserve has notched just seven minutes of test action against Australia.

With Mils Muliaina on the rise and covering the same positions, and MacDonald back in the fold, Ralph appears to be surplus stock.

Otago lock Simon Maling and halfback Byron Kelleher trained at Logan Park, amid widespread predictions that Maling will replace Williams, whose Auckland side plays Samoa at Eden Park on Friday night.

But Mitchell's decision to retain Williams, while releasing Blair and Ralph, suggests he will retain his place.

Maling can get valuable game time for Otago against Southland in Dunedin on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, former Wallaby captain Nick Farr-Jones was not overly excited about the Australian win in Brisbane.

"I would need both hands to count the number of times the Wallabies needlessly gave back possession when either on attack or clearly with counter attacking opportunities.

"It is a sign of a lack of confidence and vision and is in stark contrast to the way the All Blacks are using possession."