Key Boks get a break

Sunday 16th September 2007

South African coach Jake White will rest a number of his key players for the Springboks' next World Cup Group A game, against Tonga in Lens on Saturday, as he starts the delicate balancing act ahead of the tournament's play-off stages.

White, who stuck to his stated intention of playing his best team in the opening matches against Samoa and England, will field most of his fringe players against the high-flying Pacific side - who have also opened their account with back-to-back victories, against the United States and Samoa.

However, White will revert back to his best selection for the Boks' final pool match, against the US Eagles on September 30.

After recording a 59-7 win over Samoa and a 36-0 whitewash of England, the South Africans look set to top Pool A and face Wales in the quarter-finals.

With the pressure off White will use this week to rest the likes of captain and hooker John Smit, lock Victor Matfield, flanker Juan Smith, scrum-half Fourie du Preez and prop Os du Randt.

Flank Schalk Burger will also serve the second of his two-match ban for a dangerous tackle - leaving about half of White's first-choice players on the sidelines.

He may rest a few more.

White said working out his teams was a careful balancing act between giving key players a rest and keeping momentum heading into the knockout stages.

"There are two aspects to this," White told a media gather on Sunday.

"One is that you want the side going into the quarter-finals to be having momentum from the last game of the pool, so you can't be resting all your senior players in the last game of the pool stages.

"But at the same time you can't expect the one group of players to be playing four, five consecutive weekends now, winning the pool and then having to play playing three games in a row in the knockout stages as well.

"Obviously we have to see who we play in the last eight and I have told the chaps that.

"I have to see how the players recover and if they are rested. You have to measure up your opposition and then select the players most adept at taking them on."

"Others though need more rugby, such as JP Pietersen [the right winger who has scored three tries, including a brace against England].

"He could become an even bigger star by the end of the campaign."

But the Bok coach made it clear the likes of Smit, Matfield, Du Preez, Smith and Du Randt will be back to face the Eagles.

And the suspended Burger will also get some much needed game time after missing two weeks of action.

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