Subscribe to Archivestuff Have your say Gert Smal said rugby is not for "sissies" and has dismissed allegations the Springboks dished out the dirt in Durban. Unhappy with the way skipper Richie McCaw was targeted by the Boks in their Tri Nations opener last month, the All Blacks believed he was the target of "cheap shots". "I don't know what you are talking about, but the game is not made for sissies," Smal said.
McCaw was involved in several off the ball incidents in Durban as the South Africans looked to nullify him and delay his return to the next phase. The game was also punctuated by several other scuffles. All Blacks coach Graham Henry later said he was unhappy about the South Africans' tactics.
Smal, however, said Henry had just got his wires crossed. "Like I say ..
. I haven't seen any cheap shots. It was most probably just his interpretations.
"As far as I know our instructions will always be to the players to keep it as clean as possible and play the game as hard as possible as well." The Wallabies were also unhappy with the way the Springboks targeted George Smith in Sydney last weekend. Smal said the All Blacks' remarks were an eyeopener, but he would not be instructing his players to tone down their physical approach.
"But, you know, it is probably just their views, but we will keep it as hard as possible ...
It is a well respected team as well, so it is quite surprising they come out with that." Smal said international rugby players should expect to be physically tested and would not be drawn into a debate about whether the All Blacks also tried to rattle their opponents. "I won't call it cheap shots.
I think it is a physical game. "You can't run away from the physical part of the game and you have to be able to deal with it. "You walk into the comfort space of another person and it all depends on how you can take it and how you can handle it.
" The Springboks are unlikely to make many changes to the side that lost 17-25 to the Wallabies. Jacques Cronje is likely to replace the injured Bobby Skinstad at No. 8 when the team is named today.
First five-eighths Derick Hougaard is likely to be retained ahead of Peter Grant, meaning the Springboks are again likely to implement the same conservative game plan they executed in Sydney.
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