Kiwis target Bok pack
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:42
Men at war: All Black assistant coach Wayne Smith
It was once said, in a South African dressing room, that when you play a rugby Test against New Zealand, 'consider your country at war'.
Nothing has changed in almost a century of internationals between these two arch rivals and when the All Blacks host the Springboks in the opening Tri-Nations Test in Wellington on Saturday it will be every bit as brutal as the previous 72 encounters between the two sides.
New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith has made no secret of the fact that they will not take a step back in the latest 'battle' in this ongoing war.
In fact Smith has targeted domination up front as the decisive area in the Test.
In New Zealand they are eyeing the Bok pack as a potential weakness - especially after coach Peter de Villiers made some surprise selections.
Joe van Niekerk's inclusion ahead of form Super 14 players Pierre Spies and Ryan Kankowski raised questions in New Zealand about whether the Springboks still have the forward superiority they have boasted in recent years.
Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha continue to set the benchmark for line-out standards, but in the looming scrum battle the All Blacks appear to have the edge by the way they overpowered England in back-to-back Tests last month.
The return of prop Tony Woodcock can only further strengthen the front row where South Africa have to rebuild without retired Os du Randt.
And Smith confirmation that the Kiwis will target the Bok pack makes it clear this is going to be a war of attrition.
"To beat the 'Boks you've got to compete well up front," Smith said.
"They're not a team you can lose the forward battle to and beat, they tend to smother you," he added.
But Smith said no amount of preparation and advice could prepare the new All Blacks for the intense physical nature of a Springboks Test.
"We've tried to replicate it within our build up, we've had quite an intense week but I'm sure the first few minutes are going to really tell on some players and we're going to have to adjust quickly."
If the All Blacks have a perceived weakness it is in the loose forwards where inspirational captain Richie McCaw is injured and the powerful Jerry Collins has retired from Test rugby.
The back three now consists of stand-in captain Rodney So'oialo, a 44-Test veteran, and newcomers Jerome Kaino and Adam Thompson, who have six Tests between them.
But imposing South African loose forward Schalk Burger said they still carried an intimidating aura.
"It was never fun playing against Jerry, he was a very tough man, but I don't think they've lost anything," Burger said.
"At the end of the day they're the All Blacks and they're going to face up to a proper Test match. I don't think they've lost any of the intimidation factor."
Smith added that the Ireland Test last month, won 21-11 and described by players as the coldest game they had ever played, was an excellent reference point in preparations this week.
"At least we have played under it [extreme wet and cold conditions] and probably know what it is going to be like, and we are probably better prepared.
"We've looked at South Africa with a mind to this sort of weather happening."
