Five games and four players down and the Springboks believe more than ever that victory is 80 minutes away.
On Tuesday the Springboks went through their paces without fullback Percy Montgomery, who was suffering from a stomach bug, scrumhalf Fourie du Preez with an ear infection, hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle not feeling well and CJ van der Linde, who is suffering from a neck injury.
The Springboks were in a buoyant mood, however, the catalyst of which was an extra day off on Monday, followed by the inclusion of Sharks flanker AJ Venter, Breyton Paulse and the return from injury of Danie Rossouw.
Rossouw, though, did not finish training as he seems to still be struggling with his hamstring.
”Percy is suffering from a stomach bug while Fourie has an ear infection and Chiliboy is just not feeling well, and that is why he sat out. CJ has a neck injury and is unlikely to play this weekend,” said Springbok coach Jake White after his team’s training in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
However, White is defiant that his team can haul themselves from the country’s third worst run of defeats and stop the All Blacks from inflicting the Boks with their sixth consecutive defeat.
And White has finally decided to play all his cards in this week’s clash against the All Blacks in Phokeng.
The absence of Montgomery and Du Preez hardly had any impact on the Boks’ training as White’s decision to change his team could possibly see Du Preez and Montgomery start the match from the bench.
White’s backline could see some drastic changes as Ruan Pienaar might start the game with Wynand Olivier moving off the bench to partner Jean de Villiers at centre.
Montgomery looks to be replaced by Jaque Fourie at fullback, with Andre Pretorius coming in at flyhalf.
Up front the Boks are likely to go with a front row of BJ Botha, John Smit and Os du Randt, with the second row of Victor Matfield and Johan Muller likely to stay the same.
There could be a possible change in the loose trio where Solly Tyibilika is likely to be demoted to the bench after having an indifferent Test at Loftus in the Boks’ 45-26 loss, making way for AJ Venter.
Jacques Cronje and Pierre Spies seem set to make up the remainder of the pack.
White offered an explanation for the changes, citing the upcoming Mandela Challenge match against Australia at Ellis Park in two weeks’ time.
”With the Australia game in mind, it is only fair to give other players an opportunity to play,” White said.
And with White going through his lowest ebb at the helm of the Springboks, the former school teacher vowed not to resign from his job despite heavy public criticism from former Springboks and the South African public.
White’s stance also stems from the support he has received from South African Rugby Union (Saru) president Oregan Hoskins, who was president of the Sharks when they were going through their woes a few years ago.
”The president has been very positive towards me and he has been through this with the Sharks. He told me that he has seen this before and that it is not pleasant, but gave me his backing and suggested bringing guys from the outside to come in and help me. I’m more than willing to listen to anybody, doesn’t matter who the committee is.
”Anyone who can add value we must take with open hands. If they have the answers that can make us turn the corner, then great, and I think it is a great step by Saru. How does one handle this? Is there a book you can buy and go to chapter 6 and that tells you how to handle this,” White said.
The names of former Bok coaches Nick Mallett and Andre Markgraaff had been touted to form the cog of the committee to assist White but it looks highly unlikely that the duo will assist White.
Either way, White has belief that his team will turn the corner from this rut, but the only question that beckons is when? — Sapa