Wallabies won't be distracted, says Jones

JOHANNESBURG - Australia have rejected any suggestion that their Mandela Challenge Plate showdown with South Africa is merely a warm-up for the Tri-nations.

Australia play the Springboks in the Mandela Challenge decider on July 23 in Johannesburg, having secured an emphatic 30-12 victory in the first leg in Sydney last Saturday.

The two teams meet again a week later in Pretoria in the opening test of the Tri-nations competition.

But Australia coach Eddie Jones said: "Our focus is on winning the competition, not on preparing for the Tri-nations.

"The Mandela Challenge Plate is a prestigious trophy and is very important in terms of South Africa as a country.

"It also symbolises the competition between two fierce rivals. Both South Africa and Australia aspire to be the most powerful rugby nation in the world and we value the Mandela Challenge tests as highly as the Cook Cup matches against England and the Bledisloe Cup with the All Blacks."

The Wallabies have several players back from injury who were not available for the Sydney test and Jones said it would lift his team's performance to another level.

"There's going to be more competition for places, which is nice," Jones said.

"Daniel Vickerman was one of the form players in the Super 12 and Stirling Mortlock and Chris Latham have all been in good form too.

"But their replacements -- Mark Chisholm, Mat Rogers, Morgan Turinui and Drew Mitchell -- all did extremely well in the last test.

"South Africa will play better at Ellis Park, and will defend much better, but we will play better too."

Australian captain George Gregan is also confident that the leg injury he suffered in Sydney will not keep him out of the Johannesburg test.

"It's just a soft tissue injury and it's pulled up well," Gregan said.

The Australians flew on to Cape Town on Wednesday, where they will be based until July 22. Jones said he was confident that was the best way possible to prepare for a test at altitude.

"All the scientific evidence is that you need to spend at least two weeks at altitude for any beneficial effects. Coming up the day before the test will have a minimal effect on us, therefore it's best for us to stay in Cape Town.

"I firmly believe our preparation plan is right. It's the first time we'll have 10 days of preparation here," the coach said.

- REUTERS