French experiment faces tough Test

Amid all the media hype explaining how South Africa are going to crush France at Ellis Park today, one fact has been largely ignored. The Springboks have never won a Test against the Tricolors at the 68,000-seat venue.

It is the experimental appearance of the French line-up that has led many South Africans to assume the two-Test series - the second is on June 23rd in Durban - will be a formality for the Springboks.

French coach Bernard Laporte begs to differ: "There are 15 players going out on the field for France and I expect them to play with the same passion and determination we have shown against the All Blacks in recent years."

It will be a tall order, though, for a team fielding new caps in full-back Nicolas Jeanjean, centre Yannick Jauzion and number eight Patrick Tabacco and showing eight changes from that beaten 48-19 by England in April.

South African coach Harry Viljoen is also in a gambling mood with wing Dean Hall, outhalf Butch James and tighthead prop Etienne Fynn making their first appearances.

Fynn becomes the first black forward to wear the green and gold and Viljoen insists he is not indulging in window dressing as government pressure mounts to field more blacks. Opposing him will be Jean Jacques Crenca, a surprise choice at loose head in front of the experienced Christian Califano.

Meanwhile New Zealand rugby's new face goes on show tonight at North Harbour Stadium against Samoa. Last season's disappointing results in the Tri-Nations with Australia and South Africa, a lacklustre end of season tour to France and Italy and the failure of any of New Zealand's five teams to make this year's Super 12 semi-finals has this rugbyproud country on edge.

Coaches Wayne Smith and Tony Gilbert have been putting a brave face on the situation by claiming the Super 12 failures allowed them more time to work with the All Blacks before the international season.

But they have faced another problem with a clear decision to depart from the amateur ideal of playing the best All Black team possible for every Test match and introducing a rotation system.

They telegraphed their intent by leaving winger Jonah Lomu out of the squad for the game while choosing the less experienced inside back combination of Byron Kelleher and Tony Brown ahead of incumbents Justin Marshall and Andrew Mehrtens.

In the short-term, Samoa is not expected to expose any frailties in the home team as they also battle for an improved result against a major power in the world game.

England skipper Kyran Bracken leads his young team into battle for the final time on their North American tour today. Having picked up the winning trail left by the senior side with victories over Canada, another triumph over the United States at Balboa Park would see England set a new national record of 11 successive Test wins.

NEW ZEALAND: L MacDonald; D Howlett, T Umaga, P Alatini, J Wilson; T Brown, B Kelleher; R Cribb, M Holah, R Thorne, T Flavell, N Maxwell, G Somerville, A Oliver (capt), C Hoeft. Replacements: M Hammett, C Hayman, C Jack, T Randell, J Marshall, A Mehrtens, M Ranby.

SAMOA: S Leaega; F Soolefai, T Fanoloua, A So'oalo, F Tuilagi; E Va'a, S So'oialo; J Paramore, C Glendining, S Lafaiali'i, O Palepoi, S Sititi (capt), P Asi, T Leota, M Luafalealo. Replacements: L Tone, K Lealamanua, A Tiatia, P Segi, E Sevealii, T Vili, J Filemu.

SOUTH AFRICA: Mulder, De Wet Barry, D Hall; B James J van der Westhuizen; R Kempson, J Smit, E Fynn, A Venter, M Andrews, C Krige, R Erasmus, A Vos (capt). Replacements: C Jantjes, R Fleck, N de Kock, B Skinstad, A van den Berg, W Meyer, O le Roux.

FRANCE: N Jeanjean; D Bory, Y Jauzion, S Glas, C Dominici; G Merceron, F Galthie (capt); JJ Jacques Crenca, R Ibanez, P de Villiers, D Auradou, O Brouzet, S Chabal, O Magne, P Tabacco. Replacements: O Azam, C Califano, L Nallet. E Vermeulen, P Mignoni, D Skrela, P Elhorga.