Springboks coach Jake White on Thursday defended his controversial selection policy of bringing an under-strength squad to play the Wallabies and All Blacks in next month’s Tri-Nations Tests.
The South Africans arrived in Sydney Thursday minus 24 leading players, who White said were either injured or being rested ahead of September’s World Cup in France.
White denied the Springboks were surrendering their Tri-Nations chances and said South Africa traditionally had a poor away record in the tournament and weren’t prepared to risk injuring players a few months out from the World Cup.
”I think anyone that understands it would say that it would be ludicrous to come here with players that are carrying injuries, so we brought our best possible team that can make us proud in the next two weekends,” White told reporters at Sydney Airport.
South Africa play the Wallabies in Sydney on July 7 and the All Blacks in Christchurch on July 14.
White said his list of injured players included scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, winger Bryan Habana, captain and hooker John Smit, back rowers Pierre Spies and Juan Smith and prop Gurthro Steenkamp.
White said other key players, including locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha and prop BJ Botha, needed a rest after a heavy Super 14 workload.
”It’s not a question of bringing a second-string side, it’s a case of bringing a team I think that can still play for World Cup places and there’s a lot of Test caps in the squad,” he said.
White pointed out that winger Lote Tuqiri was left out of Australia’s two Tests against Wales to work on his speed.
”The reason Tuqiri was rested on a speed programme during the Wales series, does that devalue the Welsh Test series, or does it mean that Tuqiri needs to be ready for the World Cup,” White said.
White and his captain, Bob Skinstad, took issue with the Australian Rugby Union’s suggestions South Africa’s decision to bring an understrength side was a betrayal of Australian rugby supporters.
”I don’t know why they feel that; the reality is we’ve got to rest our players and I’ve done what I think is in the best interests of everybody,” White said.
”To call them second-raters when there’s only three new caps who probably won’t be involved in the 22 is probably a little bit difficult.”
Back-rower Skinstad was startled by the betrayal claims.
”Betrayal is a big word,” Skinstad said. ”I am sure the powers that be will sort that out between themselves; my job is to play rugby.”
Asked for his message to the Australian fans, Skinstad replied: ”My message is we are here to play rugby, come and watch.”
White said there were 10 to 12 places up for grabs in South Africa’s World Cup squad.
White said he wanted to watch the Wallabies play the All Blacks in Melbourne on Saturday to rate his team’s winning chances in over a week’s time.
”Then we can work out and have a look and see what we can do next weekend,” he said. — Sapa-AFP