White must make the call
2006-09-10 21:42
Johannesburg - The Currie Cup contenders are holding their breath to hear which Springboks Jake White will release to play for their unions now that the provincial rugby competition has reached the straight.
The Springbok coach said after the final Tri-Nations Test here on Saturday that the non-contracted members of the national squad certainly would be released to play Currie Cup rugby.
"Some of the contracted players will be released, as well," he said.
One of the players who will certainly be given a long break to get over his aches and pains is veteran loosehead prop Os du Randt.
Others who also need rest after the Tri-Nations and Super 14 competitions are lock forward Victor Matfield, wing Bryan Habana and scrumhalf Fourie du Preez.
Among the non-contracted players who may return to Currie Cup duty on Saturday are flyhalf André Pretorius, scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, lock Johann Muller and loose forwards Pierre Spies, Pedrie Wannenberg and AJ Venter.
Bok squad named after Cup final
The Springboks will have this week free before meeting here on Sunday for a three-day camp during which they will undergo intensive tests and receive specialist coaching in several techniques.
After that, it will be decided which contracted Springboks will be released to play Currie Cup rugby.
White will announce his squad of 30 players for the tour of Europe at the end of the year - they play Ireland and twice against England - after the Currie Cup final.
White will also be able to say next week, after the camp, whether injured Springboks such as lock forward Bakkies Botha and prop Gurthrö Steenkamp will be available to tour.
Commenting on the 24-16 victory over Australia on Saturday, White said much had changed in the previous two weeks.
"It would have been easier to lie down (after five consecutive defeats), but I told the players if there was one thing I was going to do, it was to become stronger, not weaker.
"I knew things would change and told the players that if they did not believe that I would not retain them. That is why these two victories (over New Zealand and Australia) are massive.
"People would have laughed at me a month ago if I told them we would win two of our last three matches."
The coach was the first to admit that the Springboks' performance at Ellis Park had not been their best.
Unable to add the finishing touches
"We were dangerous when we took the ball out wide, but on some occasions we were unable to add the finishing touches."
White agreed that the players were afraid of losing. "They do not always play to win, but they play not to lose.
"Sometimes one forgets that some of them are only 22 or 23 years old. They are afraid to make mistakes."
Springbok captain John Smit and his men scored 21 points during their second-half transformation on Saturday after level-pegging 3-3 at halftime.
White said his main message to the players during the break had been to score first after the resumption.
"And, we did it with a penalty goal," he said.