Jake: Bok B-team against Kiwis

2006-08-23 21:55

Morris Gilbert

Johannesburg - The spate of injuries in the Bok camp, to which Juan Smith's name has been added, means the Springboks will take on the All Blacks virtually with their B-team, says coach Jake White.

Smith was ruled out of the Tri-Nations rugby Test against New Zealand in Pretoria on Saturday.

Smith, South Africa's most-consistent loose forward so far this season, was injured during a practice session at Loftus Versfeld.

"This is a huge, huge blow," said White after Smith's thigh was injured.

"Juan was one of our stars on the tour of Australasia after emerging as one of the best loose forwards in the Super 14 competition," said White.

"Three years ago, he was still playing Under-21 rugby. Now, he is closing in on his 30th Test match. We certainly need him.

"This is starting to sound like a refrain but he is now in the same boat as Gurthrö Steenkamp (prop), Bakkies Botha (lock) and Schalk Burger (flank).

"This means we will take on the All Blacks with almost a B-team," said a disappointed White.

He was vague about a replacement for Smith in the starting line-up, but it should be Joe van Niekerk or Pierre Spies. Both are in the present Tri-Nations squad.

A player's dynamics

"It's not simply a matter of replacing one player with another," said White.

"We must take into account the dynamics a player such as Juan brings to the team and then decide who would, against this background, be the most-suitable replacement."

Smith's injury means the inclusion of centre Jean de Villiers will not be the only change to the team that played Australia in Sydney recently. De Villiers takes over at inside centre from Wynand Olivier.

Three of the seven substitutes are on the brink of making their Test debut.

They are hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar and prop forward BJ Botha. Ralepelle was also on the bench in Sydney, but did not play.

- Beeld