Australian rugby authorities are resigned to hosting a below-strength Springbok line-up next month despite complaining of a betrayal on the part of their South African counterparts.
After taking a narrow 22-19 win over Australia to open the Tri-Nations series in Cape Town and a 26-21 loss to the All Blacks last weekend in Durban, South Africa coach Jake White announced he was not considering 21 of his top players for the return matches in Sydney and New Zealand.
The decision was condemned by both the Australian and New Zealand unions — partners with South Africa in Sanzar, in the organising body for the annual Tri-Nations and Super 14 provincial competitions.
Australian Rugby Union (ARU) chairperson Peter McGrath sent a letter of complaint to the South African Rugby Union (Saru) and said he was not satisfied with the response.
”The ARU does consider this a betrayal, as we ensured our best possible squad was sent to compete against South Africa in Cape Town,” McGrath said in a statement on Wednesday. ”To send a less-than-top-line squad is insulting, not only to the spirit of the Tri-Nations competition, but more importantly the Australian and South African rugby faithful.
”Saru was more than happy to cash-in on the quality of the Wallabies squad we sent this month to South Africa — this has obviously not been reciprocated.”
Australia host the All Blacks in Melbourne on Saturday and will take on South Africa in Sydney on July 7.
Saru told Australian officials that a sports medicine expert had advised that sending the top-line Springboks stars to Australia and New Zealand after five tough Test matches would be detrimental to its World Cup campaign at France in September.
”While not for a second underestimating the significance of the Rugby World Cup to any nation, the Tri-Nations has for 12 years now been considered one of the premier competitions in international rugby,” McGrath said.
Australian officials quickly dismissed any discussion of cancelling the South Africa match and instituting a third match against New Zealand.
The Sydney Test against the Springboks is expected to be the last in Australia for veteran halves George Gregan — the most capped rugby international yet — and Stephen Larkham. — Sapa-AP