CAPE TOWN, 12 July 2003 — The Tri-Nations championship begins today with South Africa under huge pressure to beat Australia at Newlands. Unimpressive warm-up victories over Scotland (twice) and Argentina have only deepened the gloom hanging over the Springboks ahead of annual home and away fixtures against the Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks.
World champions eight years ago, the green and gold have been in decline for some time with attempts by coach Rudolf Straeuli to turn the tide proving largely unsuccessful. Injuries did not help with utility back Werner Greeff, matchwinner in the corresponding fixture last year, and loose forwards Joe van Niekerk and Bob Skinstad among those ruled out.
Few would blame Straeuli, a forward in the 1995 World Cup-winning squad, if he barred his team from reading newspapers in the build-up as many headlines were depressing. Dave Waterston, coach of neighbors and rugby minnows Namibia, slammed the Boks for playing “medieval rugby, like a siege on a castle. South Africa have only one plan: Take it up front and batter away.” Danie Gerber, one of the finest centers to represent South Africa, lamented the lack of creativity among the backs and said versatile replacement Brent Russell is the only player who can make something out of nothing.
Another former Springbok back, Michael du Plessis, was even more scathing, saying the Bok backline lacked players who can read the game and solve problems.
Straeuli is pinning his hopes on forward dominance, the place and tactical kicking of fly-half Louis Koen, and a team showing eight changes from that which ‘stole’ a 26-25 victory over Argentina in Port Elizabeth two weeks ago.
Bulldogs Maul ‘Baby’
Broncos in League
In Brisbane, Australia, the Canterbury Bulldogs took advantage of the much-weakened competition leaders Brisbane Broncos with a 40-4 National Rugby League win at Lang Park yesterday.
The Bulldogs continued their mid-season surge in form with a seven tries to one win over the ‘baby’ Broncos, missing 10 of their State of Origin representatives. The Broncos are set to lose the premiership lead to Penrith over the weekend with the Panthers tackling bottom-of-the-table South Sydney at home. It was hard to fault the Bulldogs, also missing five topline players.
