Viljoen won't compromise on selection

Springboks rugby coach Harry Viljoen said last night he wouldn't be pressured into selecting his team on race lines when he announced his Tri-Nations test side today.

The Springboks side will be unveiled at about 1.30 pm and the All Blacks management have delayed their announcement to 6 pm from the originally scheduled 9 am.

With South African centre Robbie Fleck's ankle injury almost certain to rule him out of Saturday's test, Natal team-mates Deon Kayser - a black player with more test experience - and Andre Snyman are contenders for the position.

That has created a politically explosive task for Viljoen.

South African Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour has constantly pressured the South African selectors and Viljoen to pick at least two black players in the test team. Winger Breyton Paulse is ensconced in the test XV.

Viljoen had apparently agreed to include at least four blacks in the squad, with two to be among the starting XV, when he became the Springboks coach.

Whenever he has been unable to fulfil the quota he has come under pressure from Balfour's office. With the Tri-Nations title hanging in the balance, Viljoen's priority is to win Saturday's match.

"As a coach, you always have to make decisions and you can't always satisfy everyone. That's why I'm the coach," Viljoen said. "I'm not there to be popular. I'm there to win test matches."

Balfour publicly announced the Springboks should have players such as Kayser in the side before the All Blacks played South Africa in Cape Town.

But Viljoen met the minister privately and the coach got his way.

Kayser, 31, who replaced Fleck in the 14-14 draw against Australia last Saturday, has a chance to extend his record to 13 tests.

He has yet to start for the Springboks this season, despite playing an outstanding role in the Sharks' Super 12 campaign.

The Springboks selectors, though, seem to lean towards starting Snyman, who has a 20kg weight advantage over Kayser and brings physical presence into the South African backline.

Snyman has been off the international scene for nearly two years since a broken ankle against the All Blacks in 1999 stalled his test career.