Jake White hits back

Just before their departure, Jake White defended the decision to send a second-string Springbok squad to Australasia to contest the remainder of the Tri Nations. He noted Australia’s hypocrisy and gave his reasons for the decision.

“I have no doubt that the pressure is now all on Australia. They are saying that they are going to run all over us, well, good luck to them. We’re going to give as good as we get. It seems as though the most important person for the Wallabies is the bus driver who will take them to the stadium. All they have to do, it seems, is turn up.

“I find it odd that people say we can’t take a certain team. The best players in the 1999 World Cup were John Eales and Tim Horan, and they never played any Super 12 rugby that year. Australia realised that they were very important to them in that tournament and looked after them.

“We only have three new players in the team for this tour. People who are now making out that we have a young, inexperienced squad never said anything four years ago when I picked a young, inexperienced squad against Ireland, a squad that only had 175 caps. I think it’s exciting. There are 10 places left in the World Cup squad and there is a huge opportunity for those players to get on the plane to France.

“I didn’t change the team on Saturday evening. That was done on Wednesday. If we had won the game in Durban it wouldn’t have made a difference. We have a leading sports scientist in Prof Tim Noakes, and one has to value what he has to offer.

“He has told us that if we keep playing players non-stop then you risk them getting injured. John is injured, Gurthro is injured, Juan, Pierre, Fourie, Butch, Ricky, Bryan are all injured. We aren’t resting everyone. We need to make some big calls. Victor played every game for the Bulls, as did Danie, while BJ played every game for the Sharks. They need the time off ahead of the World Cup.”

Probable Springbok Team (Test caps in brackets):

01 Deon Carstens (7)
02 Gary Botha (7)
03 Cobus Visagie (29)
04 Johan Ackermann (12)
05 Johann Muller (14)
06 Wikus van Heerden (5)
07 Pedrie Wannenburg (18)
08 Bob Skinstad (37)

09 Ruan Pienaar (10)
10 Derick Hougaard (6)
11 JP Pietersen (4)
12 Wynand Olivier (15)
13 Waylon Murray (1)
14 Breyton Paulse (62)
15 Bevin Fortuin (1)

Replacements:

16. Bismarck du Plessis (0)
17. Jannie du Plessis (0)
18. Albert van den Berg (44)
19. Jacques Cronje (29)
20. Bolla Conradie (15)
21. Peter Grant (3)
22. Jaco Pretorius (1)