'Welcome to Jurassic Park'
2005-07-07 21:35
Sydney - "Welcome to Jurassic Park" is how the "dinosaur" Springbok pack will welcome the Wallabies in the first scrum at Telstra Stadium on Saturday.
The two teams meet in the first of Two Tests for the Mandela Cup.
The Bok forwards are ready for the Wallabies after their controversial loosehead Bill Young said earlier this week that he was looking forward to scrum against a few Bok dinosaurs.
The Boks were strongly criticised by Wallaby coach Eddie Jones and his players after they questioned Young's suspect scrumming technique.
Bok coach Jake White also said that, because of the perception of the size of props in South Africa, Young would probably play in a fourth team in South Africa.
Bok forwards coach Gert Smal added oil to the fire on Wednesday by also questioning the Aussies' scrumming technique.
Everyone was up in arms about this and an Australian newspaper carried a report with the following headline: "Boks suggest Wallabies are a pack of cheats".
Speaks his mind
The Boks debated this thoroughly and decided to welcome the Wallaby forwards to Jurassic Park in the first scrum.
Jones, who has a reputation as a coach who does not hesitate to speak his mind and likes to manipulate the Australian media, said in reaction to Smal's allegations that he was just another voice in the crowd.
White said that he and Jones were good friends.
"I will ask Eddie what is going on when I see him on Saturday. I am not someone to criticise other coaches.
"However, I think we are correct about Young. We are not the only country to have referred to his technique.
"Both England and Argentina have said the same thing.
"But, this is a good thing, because the referee (Kelvin Deaker of New Zealand) will be compelled to give attention to the scrums."
The Boks had a rest day on Thursday and several players decided to play a round of golf.