South African rugby coach Jake White was the ultimate diplomat on Thursday when his team arrived in Australia, saying a draw would be his favoured outcome when Tri-Nations rivals Australia and New Zealand play on Saturday.
Following 22-16 home wins over both the All Blacks and Wallabies, White and his team will begin preparations for their August 20 match against Australia at Perth.
White believes injuries to leading players in the Australian and New Zealand camps make squad depth the key factor.
He said Australia have a dominant record at Telstra Stadium against the All Blacks, although New Zealand beat the Wallabies 50-21 in the lead-up to the 2003 World Cup.
”Australia have won six of their last eight games in Sydney, and New Zealand have struggled in Sydney, so that’s one area,” White said. ”But then again, when New Zealand did get it right, they won by 50 points.
”The other thing, which is very important from our point of view, [is that] without [Stephen] Larkham they [Australia] could struggle.
”But [for New Zealand] Tana Umaga’s doubtful and Byron Kelleher’s doubtful, so I think it all adds up in terms of depth in the rest of the squad.”
Playmaker Larkham has been replaced at five-eighth by youngster Matt Giteau, while injuries to fullback Chris Latham and winger Wendell Sailor have handed Wallaby starting debuts to 21-year-old Drew Mitchell and Mark Gerrard.
All Backs captain Umaga has been given more time to prove his fitness — with a decision not expected until just before game time — while halfback Kelleher has already been ruled out and replaced by Piri Weepu.
”I’ll just sit back and hopefully there’s a draw, that’s probably what you really want,” said White. ”You don’t want anyone to win on Saturday.”
South Africa have eight points after their two wins, while Australia and New Zealand, after losing by fewer than seven points, each picked up a bonus point.
Springboks captain John Smit said the Saturday match will help clarify what South Africa need to do in their two away matches to retain their Tri-Nations title.
”It’ll help us do the math in terms of going forward and realising what needs to be done,” said Smit.
”It’ll also help us to see how the two teams fare against each other — and it’ll be great to watch from the sideline and not being out there being bashed around.” — Sapa-AP