'Boks under pressure

South Africa faces another testing time vs. All Blacks

DUNEDIN (Reuters) -- On current form, New Zealand should easily beat a beleaguered South Africa side in the Springboks' final match of the Tri-nations series Saturday.

The All Blacks have put 50 points past both South Africa and Australia in their two games to date and the demanding New Zealand public will want a similar display at Carisbrook. (Results, Schedule, Standings)

The organizers of the Tri-nations have made it hard for the Springboks.

They played Australia in the sub-tropical Brisbane and now have to step out to play New Zealand in the cool of Dunedin a week later. The forecast is for fine weather, which would mean a chilly night of single figure temperatures.

New Zealand vs. South Africa New Zealand and South Africa have played each other 61 times with the All Blacks winning 32 and the Springboks 26. Three matches have been drawn. Biggest wins: New Zealand 52-16 in 2003 South Africa 17-0 in 1928 Recent results: Year Venue Result; WC=World Cup) 1999 Dunedin NZ won 28-0 1999 Pretoria NZ 34-18 1999 Cardiff (WC) S. Africa 22-18 2000 Christchurch NZ 25-12 2000 Johannesburg S. Africa 46-40 2001 Cape Town NZ 12-3 2001 Eden Park NZ 26-15 2002 Wellington NZ 41-20 2002 Durban NZ 30-23 2003 Pretoria NZ 52-16 Last match: July 19 2003, Pretoria New Zealand 52-16 (halftime 22-9) The All Blacks, under pressure at home after losing narrowly to England, rewrote the record books with an exhilarating display of running rugby in the heartland of Afrikaner rugby. Wingers Joe Rokocoko, making his Tri-nations debut, and Doug Howlett scored two tries each while flyhalf Carlos Spencer, after a nervous start, showed the sublime touches which marked his displays for the Auckland Blues in the Super 12 competition. The New Zealand forwards laid the foundations with Jerry Collins driving remorselessly from number eight while South Africa, outclassed in all departments of the game, had only a consolation try from Ashwin Willemse to show for their efforts. New Zealand's win was its biggest ever over its traditional rival, surpassing the 28-0 scoreline in Dunedin in 1999. It was also South Africa's biggest loss in the Tri-nations while New Zealand's seven tries equaled its previous record against the Springboks. -- Reuters

Fullback Mils Muliaina, who has been deputising for the injured Leon MacDonald, said South Africa were always a hard team to beat.

"They've got nothing to lose, but we have," he said. "We want to keep our winning run going and any slip-up will be hard to take."

South Africa has made five changes to the team who lost to Australia, not all of them enforced by the undisciplined display in Brisbane which led to two suspensions.

Bobo surprise

Veteran scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen regains his place for his 85th test match, but perhaps the biggest surprise is the elevation of powerful centre Gcobani Bobo at the expense of De Wet Barry, perhaps the best South African back against the Wallabies.

He will partner his Cats teammate Jorrie Muller in the midfield, bringing in the seventh midfield combination the Springboks have used in their seven test matches of 2003.

Coach Rudolph Straeuli said he wanted a final look at combinations as the Dunedin match was the last for the team before the World Cup.

"We have always taken account of our strengths and looked at those of the All Blacks and anticipated the weather conditions," he said. "We wanted more of a physical presence in our back three and Bobo guarantees that. Joost is in for his experience and given the relative inexperience of the backs at this level, his role will be crucial."

The All Blacks have changed their front row again while Brad Thorn will start at lock alongside Ali Williams.

There is no change with the starting backs, which given the freedom and try-scoring ability they have shown in the first two matches, is understandable although MacDonald is bound to get some game time after his layoff with the after-affects of a head injury.

Teams:

New Zealand -- 15-Mils Muliaina; 14-Doug Howlett, 13-Tana Umaga, 12-Aaron Mauger, 11-Joe Rokocoko; 10-Carlos Spencer, 9-Justin Marshall; 8-Jerry Collins, 7-Marty Holah, 6-Reuben Thorne (captain), 5-Ali Williams, 4-Brad Thorn, 3-Kees Meeuws, 2-Mark Hammett, 1-Carl Hoeft.

Replacements: 16-Keven Mealamu, 17-Dave Hewett, 18-Chris Jack, 19-Rodney So'oialo; 20-Byron Kelleher, 21-Daniel Carter, 22-Leon MacDonald.

South Africa -- 15-Thinus Delport; 14-Stefan Terblanche, 13-Jorrie Muller, 12-Gcobani Bobo, 11-Ashwin Willemse; 10-Louis Koen, 9-Joost van der Westhuizen; 8-Juan Smith, 7-Joe van Niekerk, 6-Corne Krige (captain), 5-Victor Matfield, 4-Geo Cronje, 3-Richard Bands, 2-Danie Coetzee, 1-Lawrence Sephaka.

Replacements: 16-Lucas van Biljon, 17-Christo Bezuidenhout, 18-Selborne Boome, 19-Pedrie Wannenburg; 20-Neil de Kock, 21-De Wet Barry, 22-Andre Pretorius.

Referee: Peter Marshall (Australia)

 

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