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Bok capt in pain and limping
06/07/2008 22:13 - (SA)
Die Burger
Stephen Nell
Wellington - South Africa and New Zealand will both be without key players when they meet in their Tri-Nations rugby match in Dunedin on Saturday.
Springbok John Smit was still suffering from a painful groin on Sunday and it is highly unlikely that he will be fit by the end of this week.
All Black lock Brad Thorn certainly won't play on Saturday. He has been suspended for a week for upending Smit in a controversial incident during the first Test in Wellington last Saturday, causing the Springbok hooker's injury.
The tall All Black later apologised for his action but he has been punished for "unsportsmanlike behaviour". New Zealand won the match 19-8.
Smit said on Sunday his groin was feeling "tender". He was still limping and it came as no surprise when the team's management called for Western Province hooker Schalk Brits to fly to New Zealand.
Brits will still be jetlagged when the second Tri-Nations match of the year starts on Saturday and members of the Springbok camp were still hoping, probably unrealistically, on Sunday that Smit would recover in time.
The All Blacks will miss a star lock forward but the Springboks will be without their captain and will also lose power in the scrum if Smit cannot play at Carisbrook.
Fallen out of favour
The Springboks were out scrummed in Wellington, which immediately raised questions about the team being sent on tour with only two hookers and without prop forward BJ Botha.
Botha was part of a good performance in the scrum in the second Test against Wales recently but he has fallen out of favour.
The South Africans will have to work very hard this week to match the formidable New Zealand props, Tony Woodcock and Greg Somerville, in the rematch.
Gurthrö Steenkamp and CJ van der Linde did not come up to expectations in Wellington but the only other options are international rookies Tendai Mtawarira and Brian Mujati.
Van der Linde seemed to be injured in the first Test but the team's management refused to say anything about it on Sunday.
Thorn and Ali Williams also got the better of South Africa's famed lock forwards, Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield, in the first Test.
Suffered under pressure
And with the forwards struggling, Springbok flyhalf Butch James suffered under pressure.
James took some wrong options but Dunedin is not the sort of place where visiting teams should experiment with selections. He may therefore retain his place at No 10.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is likely to consider his options, though.
Peter Grant did well in the time he was on the field after replacing Francois Steyn against Italy and he will be at home between his Stormers team-mates, scrumhalf Ricky Januarie and centre Jean de Villiers.
Steyn's claims must also be given some thought. However, Adrian Jacobs did well in midfield in Wellington and if Steyn cannot be included at flyhalf, the only available place for him could be on the right wing.
A change at No 8 is also possible. Ryan Kankowski, who shone in the Super 14, certainly has more to offer than Joe van Niekerk, who played in Wellington.
But even if these changes are made, it will take a sterling turn-about effort from these Springboks to become the first South African team to win a Test match in Dunedin.
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Rugby
Tri-Nations
