The Rugby World Cup's dominance of the international calendar has turned tomorrow's Tri-Nations test between New Zealand and South Africa in Christchurch into little more than a glorified warm-up match.
South Africa have fielded a weakened team - they have been derisively dubbed the "B-team Boks" - for the meeting between two of the sport's fiercest rivals, while New Zealand made seven changes to the team that lost 20-15 to Australia in Melbourne two weeks ago.
The teams field only 10 of the 30 players who started in the All Blacks' 26-21 victory when the sides met in South Africa three weeks ago.
The Wallabies lead the standings with nine points, while New Zealand and South Africa have five, but the destiny of the tournament has become a sideshow to the World Cup, which kicks off in France on September 7th.
"The reality is that both nations have put huge premiums on the Rugby World Cup," said Springbok coach Jake White.
"New Zealand haven't won it since 1987 and there's huge pressure on them to win. And we won it in 95 and it's very important to us to win it again.
"One can look at this test match in isolation and maybe feel aggrieved but let me tell you, if the World Cup final is South Africa versus New Zealand no one is going to be worried about what happened in Christchurch."
New Zealand coach Graham Henry made his changes to give his bench players test-match time, although his assistant coach Wayne Smith told reporters yesterday the selection would have been made regardless of what team South Africa picked.
The unexpected reverse at the MCG - where the Wallabies fought back from nine points down and held off a ferocious late onslaught - has increased the pressure on an All Black team Henry admitted was not at 100 per cent, while the patchy form of outhalf Dan Carter, has also been causing concern.
"I'm not happy with the way I'm playing," said Carter, who was named IRB Player of the Year for 2005. "But it's just a matter of time with all the hard work I'm putting in on the training field."
The New Zealand captain and number seven, Richie McCaw, said the whole team needed to improve tomorrow.
"Everything we've done so far has been to get us right for the World Cup," said McCaw. "We have really got to take a step forward in these last two (Tri Nations) tests."
The destination of the Tri-Nations title will be decided in the final match of the series when the All Blacks meet the Wallabies in Auckland on tomorrow week, July 21st, regardless of what happens in Christchurch.
Tomorrow's match at the Jade Stadium will be refereed by Australia's Stuart Dickinson, one of the 12 referees named on the World Cup panel.
NEW ZEALAND: M Muliaina; D Howlett, I Toeava, L McAlister, S Sivivatu; D Carter, P Weepu; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, C Hayman; K Robinson, C Jack; R Thorne, R McCaw (capt), R So'oialo.
SOUTH AFRICA: JP Pietersen; B Paulse, W Murray, W Olivier, J Pretorius; D Hougaard, R Pienaar; CJ van der Linde, B du Plessis, J du Plessis; A van den Berg, J Muller (capt); W van Heerden, P Wannenburg, J Cronje.
New Zealand v South Africa
Tomorrow, Christchurch
8.35am (Irish-time)
TV: Live on Sky Sports 2
(Repeated, Sky Sports 3, 7.30pm)
HowTheyStand
P W D L F A B P
Australia 3 2 0 1 64 54 1 9
New Zealand 2 1 0 1 41 41 1 5
South Africa 3 1 0 2 60 70 1 5
Remaining fixtures
Tomorrow: New Zealand v South Africa, Christchurch, 8.35am (Irish time), Sky Sports 2.
Saturday, July 21st: New Zealand v Australia, Auckland, 8:35am (Irish time), Sky Sports 2.
