All Blacks boss Henry fears Bok backlash

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry concedes that Johannesburg’s altitude factor could be a major stumbling block for his side ahead of their Tri-Nations showdown with South Africa on Saturday.

The last time the All Blacks won on the Highveld — the upper plateau region of the country — was back in the 2006 competition when they toppled the Springboks in Pretoria.

Since then, they have battled to overcome the hosts and again face a tough task to win in the historic clash at the FNB Stadium.

“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” Henry said. “We know the challenges of playing up here ataltitude. We were here in 2004 at Ellis Park where we got well beaten up by the Boks. We know it is a big job to win here.

“New Zealand teams come here regularly in the Super 14 and try and play in Super 14 semis and finals and realise it is hard to try and get things together in a week and play on a Saturday. We are under no illusions to how difficult the task is.”

The New Zealanders currently top the Tri-Nations standings and need just a point in their remaining two matches to clinch the title.

However, there will be more than 90,000 supporters willing the home team on after a rugby international was moved for the first time to Soweto and the Soccer City venue, which hosted the recent football World Cup final. And Henry is expecting the hosts to come out firing.

He continued: “Peter de Villiers has done a great job selecting his team.

“It’s a very strong side and they’ll be very motivated playing in Soweto for the first time.”

Among those is returning flanker Juan Smith, who believes South Africa can only improve their Tri-Nations fortunes.

The Cheetahs captain has not played for the Springboks for almost a year after injury and a family bereavement took its toll.

But he is all set to return for the world champions as they try to arrest their recent slide that has seen them lose their opening three matches of the competition, twice to the All Blacks and once to Australia.

“It’s difficult being on the outside and knowing how the players who performed down under feel,” Smith said. “But after our recent failures, we have a lot of pride to play for and playing in front of your home crowd is an advantage, so it can only get better.”

Smith’s introduction was one of seven changes to the team made by coach de Villiers, who is under pressure to turn around the fortunes of the team.

Scrum-half Francois Hougaard and lock Flip van der Merwe have been handed their first Test starts, while JP Pietersen, Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh and Jannie du Plessis also return. Captain John Smit, who faced criticism over his fitness, will earn his 100th cap in the Green and Gold.