The Rugby World Cup’s dominance of the international calendar has turned Saturday’s Tri-Nations Test between New Zealand and South Africa in Christchurch into little more than a glorified warm-up match.
South Africa have fielded a weakened team for the meeting between two of the sport’s fiercest rivals, while New Zealand made seven changes to the team that lost 20-15 to Australia in Melbourne two weeks ago.
The teams field only ten of the 30 players who started in the All Blacks’ 26-21 victory when the sides met in South Africa three weeks ago.
The Wallabies lead the standings with nine points while New Zealand and South Africa have five, but the destiny of the tournament has become a sideshow to the World Cup.
”The reality is that both nations have put huge premiums on the Rugby World Cup,” said Springbok coach Jake White.
”New Zealand haven’t won it since 1987 and there’s huge pressure on them to win. And we won it in ’95 and it’s very important to us to win it again.
”One can look at this Test match in isolation and maybe feel aggrieved but let me tell you, if the World Cup final is South Africa versus New Zealand no one is going to be worried about what happened in Christchurch.”
New Zealand coach Graham Henry made his changes to give his bench players Test match time although assistant coach Wayne Smith told reporters on Thursday that the selection would have been made regardless of what team South Africa picked.
Unexpected reverse
The unexpected reverse at the MCG has increased the pressure on an All Black team that Henry admitted was not at 100%, while the form of flyhalf Dan Carter, has also been causing concern.
”I’m not happy with the way I’m playing,” said Carter. ”But it’s just a matter of time with all the hard work I’m putting in on the training field.”
Captain Richie McCaw said the whole team needed to improve on Saturday.
”Everything we’ve done so far has been to get us right for the World Cup,” said McCaw. ”We have really got to take a step forward in these last two Tests.”
The Tri-Nations title will be decided in the final match of the series when the All Blacks meet the Wallabies in Auckland on July 21, regardless of what happens in Christchurch. – Reuters