The moment of truth for player power

By WYNNE GRAY in Cape Town

When Wayne Smith decided player power was the way forward for the All Blacks he knew it would take time for the new philosophy to bed in.

But the experimental phase is now over and tomorrow's test at Newlands against the Springboks will be the moment of truth. The players have to stand and deliver.

The opening segment against Samoa, Argentina and France has been completed. The business part of the season starts tomorrow.

"The management have let go of the reins more and more," skipper Anton Oliver said, "and given us the responsibility.

"If you empower people to make their own decisions and therefore reap the repercussions, then that is what we have moved to. A lot of the guys have moved substantially."

The All Blacks have also physically moved, leaving their secluded base in the wine-growing area of the Eastern Cape, to bunker down in a hotel near Newlands.

The move was a deliberate ploy because they felt last year, when they moved from Durban to Johannesburg only the day before the test, that they missed out on getting a feel for the international.

They want to draw on the hostility and hype surrounding this test. They want to feel the hatred and be fully ready.

"We have shown character and attitude this year, and that is what we want from All Black teams," Smith said.

They will need all their resilience if the weather remains unsettled and the huge Bok pack gets going.

Despite any thought about moving the ball wide, the Boks will go to their strengths, the muscle and bulk of men such as Mark Andrews, Victor Matfield and Andre Venter, who love confrontation.

Coach Harry Viljoen's revolving door selection ideas may count against the efficiency of the South African forwards.

The visitors, by contrast, have kept their combinations, which should count for something in the set phases. Whether they can withstand a wholesale bludgeoning is unknown.

A soft surface and the high chance of rain could negate the skills or impact of the All Black backs.

The more treacherous the weather, the more it becomes prudent to kick for territory and play in the opposition's half of the field.

That will question the punting skills of Tony Brown and Butch James, players who prefer to run more at the line or offload rather than putting boot to the ball.

Those tactics will also increase the defensive demands on Jeff Wilson and Percy Montgomery, players who can be a little skittery if they are hit with precision bombs. But aimless kicks in their direction can unleash menacing counter-attacks.

The withdrawal of Corne Krige, the local openside flanker, is a bonus for the All Blacks. The tussle between rejected and repositioned skippers Taine Randell and Andre Vos should be more even, but there will still be questions asked of Randell's ability to cause turnovers or to support his team-mates at the breakdown.

Justin Marshall's game will also come in for more scrutiny. Smith wants him for his leadership and experience, but if his delivery to Brown is ragged it will have a ripple effect. He needs a solid scrum, where Greg Somerville has to set the tone from tighthead, and better ball presentation from his forwards.

The three-week layoff could have an effect on the sharpness of the side and once more the forwards will hold the fate of this test. They held against the French who had ruffled the Boks.

This is an international the All Blacks can win, and an away victory would be a great spur in the challenge of wrenching the Tri-Nations title away from the Wallabies.