Rugby Union: Luyt promises sweeping changes: Face-saving in Auckland but humilation in Sydney for tourists
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WHILE South Africa drew the third and final Test against New Zealand in Auckland, the fact the series was lost has resulted in reports from Johannesburg that both the manager and coach of the Springboks team are to be sacked.
According to an Afrikaans newspaper, Louis Luyt, the South African Rugby Football Union's president, said he would 'put South African rugby in order' by ousting the coach, Ian McIntosh, and the manager, Jannie Engelbrecht.
The pair have borne the brunt of criticism for the team's poor performance, with questions asked over selection and tactics, even though Saturday's result prevented a first All Blacks whitewash in a series with the Springboks.
In particular, McIntosh found himself severely taken to task for dropping the wing, James Small, for the third Test, while the tour in general had been beset by reports of disagreements between the senior players and McIntosh and Engelbrecht. 'South African rugby must be saved,' Luyt said.
At Eden Park, meanwhile, South Africa could fairly claim a moral victory after scoring the only two tries. The full-back, Shane Howarth, saved the All Blacks by registering all their points with six penalties from six attempts.
'I thought we were going to win,' Francois Pienaar, South Africa's captain, said. Colin Meads, the New Zealand manager, proved a surprisingly honest ally. 'Any side scoring two tries to none deserves to win,' he said. South Africa blew their first scoring chance when Gavin Johnson missed a penalty, but the wing soon made amends by handling twice and crossing for the first try. Then, two minutes before half-time, Brendan Venter scored the second.
New Zealand: Penalties Howarth 6. South Africa: Tries Johnson, Venter; Conversion Johnson; Penalties Johnson 2.
New Zealand: S Howarth; J Kirwan, F Bunce, A Ieremia, J Timu; S Bachop, G Bachop; R Loe, S Fitzpatrick (capt), O Brown, R Brooke, I Jones, B Larsen (M Jones, 44), Z Brooke, M Brewer.
South Africa: A Joubert; G Johnson (J Small, 68), J Mulder, B Venter, C Williams; H le Roux, J Roux; B Swart, J Allan, K Andrews, S Atherton, M Andrews, F Pienaar (capt), A Richter, F van Heerden.
Referee: R Yemen (Wales).
John Kirwan has been dropped from the New Zealand party for the Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia in Sydney on Wednesday week.
New Zealand squad (v Australia, Sydney, 17 August): S Howarth, J Timu, J Wilson, A Ieremia, F Bunce, W Little, L Stensness, S Bachop, S Forster, G Bachop, Z Brooke, M Jones, B Larsen, M Brewer, I Jones, R Brooke, C Dowd, O Brown, R Loe, S Fitzpatrick (capt), N Hewitt.
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