/ 28 October 1999

‘HONIBALL SHOULD START’

FORMER Australian national team coach Bob Dwyer believes South Africa will make a major error if they start Saturday’s World Cup semi-final with Jannie de Beer at fly-half instead of Henry Honiball. Springbok coach Nick Mallett has said De Beer will start the match ahead of Honiball after his 34-point haul in the quarter-finals against England last weekend. De Beer kicked a world test record five drop goals against England but Dywer said he believes Honiball would pose a bigger threat to the Australians. Honiball, who will link up with Dwyer at Bristol after the World Cup, has been plagued by injuries throughout the tournament and has yet to play. “All the players in the South African team think that Honiball is a genius,” Dwyer said. “If he’s fit, then I would play him – I think that you have got to play your best players.”