All Blacks defy terror threat

The New Zealand Rugby Union has announced the All Blacks will travel to South Africa for their final Tri-Nations match despite the threat of a possible terrorist attack.

The Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, where the All Blacks will take on the Springboks on Saturday, was revealed as one of seven potential targets for an Al-Qaeda attack by South African newspaper The Star last week.

The paper reported two South Africans arrested in Pakistan had confessed under interrogation to attacks being planned in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town.

However, after a meeting between All Blacks players and management and senior NZRU management in Sydney following their 23-18 loss to Australia the decision was made to travel to South Africa and the players left Sydney on Sunday.

In a statement NZRU chief executive Chris Moller said the decision to travel had not been taken lightly.

He stated: “We are satisfied, based on the information we currently have, that the recent media reports have not been substantiated by other intelligence or evidence, and the current risk level for travel to South Africa has not changed.

“The NZRU and All Blacks management will actively monitor the security environment once in South Africa and assess any new information or potential security risks.”

The NZRU and All Blacks assessed information from a variety of sources including the New Zealand Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, before making the decision to maintain the existing travel plans.

Coach Graham Henry told Radio Sport: “The risk is one out of 10 with one being low and 10 being high.”

One player not making the trip, however, is captain Tana Umaga who has returned home to Wellington to be with his wife Rochelle who is due to give birth to their third child.

Depending on the timing of the baby’s arrival, Umaga could rejoin the All Blacks in time for the match against the Springboks.

Also making the trip to South Africa are Aaron Mauger and Rico Gear who have been called into the All Blacks squad as cover.

Daniel Carter suffered an ankle injury and was substituted early in the second half of the match against the Wallabies in Sydney.

His replacement Sam Tuitupou then broke a rib, while wing Doug Howlett has suffered nerve damage in his right shoulder.