Australia’s selectors have finally run out of patience with their misfiring team and dropped five players for this weekend’s Tri-Nations Test.

South Africa’s threat to quit the Super 14 series and play in northern hemisphere competitions is a bluff, it was reported on Monday.

The New Zealand and Australian rugby unions said on Friday they were devising an alternative Asia-Pacific competition due to a deadlock with SA.

Speaking on the eve of the first Test against Australia, which starts on Thursday, SA captain Smith said his players were ”relaxed and focused”.

It would be easy see the Springboks’ demolition of England as the yardstick of their first year as world champions. Easy, but wrong.

Australia remained unbeaten on their European tour, taking advantage of France’s poor kicking to win 18-13 on Saturday.

SA coach Peter de Villiers has handed the number 15 jersey to fullback Percy Montgomery for Saturday’s clash against the All Blacks.

Prop Tony Woodcock scored two tries as an invigorated New Zealand beat Australia 39-10 in a Tri-Nations rugby Test on Saturday.

Buoyed by their historic win over the All Blacks, SA are confident their rookie hookers can get the job done in a Test against Australia on Saturday.