|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Epic battle All Blacks prepare for Tri-Nations test against Springboks
DURBAN, South Africa (Reuters) -- The All Blacks arrived in South Africa on Saturday expecting an epic battle in their Tri-Nations match against the Springboks in Johannesburg on August 19. "With their backs to the wall the Springboks are going to be very dangerous, and it's always tough playing them up at Johannesburg," New Zealand coach Wayne Smith said. "We struggled against them at home and we don't think it'll be any different here. I think it will be an epic battle." South Africa lost to both New Zealand and Australia on their away leg of the Tri-Nations and seem likely to finish at the bottom of the standings in the southern hemisphere championship. However, Smith refused to entertain the notion that his team were odds on to win next Saturday. "It's a test match," Smith said. "I don't care whether it's part of the Tri-Nations or otherwise -- it's a test match and we're in the business of trying to win them, so it's a huge game for us." Smith said the New Zealanders had decided to prepare for the match in the coastal city of Durban to minimize the effects of Johannesburg's high altitude. "The way to handle altitude is to go up within 48 hours of the game," he said. The New Zealand team for the match against South Africa will be named on Wednesday.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
