Boks face a de facto RWC final
2008-07-04 09:02
Wellington - The Tri-Nations series kicks off on Saturday dominated by World Cup fallout with the Springboks desperate to prove their credentials as global champions while the All Blacks and Wallabies seek redemption.
For the three southern hemisphere powerhouses, holding the top three rankings in the world, there is no shortage of motivation.
To justify their No. 1 status the Springboks will want to beat the All Blacks in New Zealand, while the All Blacks and Australia are under pressure to prove their shock World Cup quarter-final losses last year were an anomaly.
Although new Springboks coach Peter de Villiers has retained the bulk of the World Cup squad he admits to a feeling of unease about the opening Test.
"I'm very nervous for one reason only, this is New Zealand in New Zealand and I know they're passionate," he said on Friday.
"The one fact is that we are the world champions (but) I don't think any other team will ever enter the shores of New Zealand and be the favourites here."
Losing coach
But the All Blacks' aura of impregnability has faded after failing to live up to their billing as World Cup favourites last year.
When the New Zealand Rugby Union decided to retain losing coach Graham Henry for another term, it allowed the Wallabies to snap up Crusaders mentor Robbie Deans.
Deans, the most successful coach in Super rugby history, was the rugby-obsessed New Zealand public's favourite to replace Henry and his departure has divided loyalties in All Blacks country.
So-called "true blue kiwis" have swamped radio shows and newspaper columns expressing a desire for the Deans-guided Wallabies to beat the All Blacks when they first meet in Sydney on July 26.
This has put enormous pressure on Henry to produce a winning side, while trying to develop a squad which looks raw after half the World Cup players either retired or took up lucrative northern hemisphere contracts.
Henry is also defending a world record 29 straight home victories, three consecutive Tri-Nations titles and an unbeaten run against the Springboks in New Zealand stretching back 10 years.
'We're in the unknown'
Adding to his problems is the loss of inspirational captain Richie McCaw, who could miss most of the series with an ankle injury.
"We're in the unknown to some extent," Henry said.
"The Springboks come in as world champions and we come in with a number of changes from last year and I think that puts a bit more edge to it."
South Africa may sense this is their year to snap their New Zealand hoodoo, but captain John Smit agreed with coach de Villiers that nothing could be taken for granted.
With severe wintry weather forecast, and the likelihood of a titanic forward battle, the Springboks have named six of their winning World Cup pack for Saturday's Test.
But Smit sensed the All Blacks will produce something special in what is seen in New Zealand as a de facto World Cup final.
"Every team that's going to play against us for the next four years is going to want to take away what we've achieved and what we've worked hard for," Smit said.
Six-Nations champions
"It's the responsibility we have upon our shoulders after the form that we've shown over the last 12-18 months to take that form into Tests against the big nations."
The three Tri-Nations sides have won all their warm-up matches with South Africa beating Six-Nations champions Wales as well as Italy, while the All Blacks beat England twice as well as Ireland.
Australia have been the least impressive in their wins over Ireland and France, and have taken a hiding in their local media.
"The Wallabies had three Tests to bed down the Deans approach before the real shooting war starts and they have used up two without getting close to where they need to be going into the Tri-Nations," The Australian newspaper said.
Australia's third warm-up Test and second against France is on Saturday before their first Tri-nations match against South Africa on July 19.