A few little tit-bits regarding the rest of the Tri-Nations of 2010.

Deans defends Smit, Matfield

Australian rugby coach Robbie Deans stepped out in support of the Springbok captaincy duo of John Smit and Victor Matfield ahead of Saturday’s Tri-Nations encounter at Loftus Versfeld.

Smit celebrated his 100th test against the All Blacks last weekend while Matfield will reach his milestone on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld amid criticism that both players have reached their sell-by date.

Smit in particular is under massive pressure, and his own high standards have slipped somewhat, while Matfield has still been putting the hard yards around the field but in some eyes this is not enough.

Deans was posed the question whether or not he would select both players for the World Cup next year if he was Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and he answered in the affirmative.

“There’s no doubt that I would pick them,” Deans said of the World Cup-winning duo. “They understand the arena and they know what it takes to win a World Cup. They’ve got the experience and we’ve seen the value of that over the years.”

The vote of confidence shows how highly both players are regarded in overseas circles, with Deans adamant of their worth to the Bok set-up.

The Wallaby coach explained what a victory at Loftus Versfeld would mean to him on Saturday, by calling it the “ultimate”.

“Loftus is a bastion, it is the ultimate. When I grew up listening to transistor radio commentary on the clashes it was a dream. Now to be here is fantastic,” Deans said.

“Our preparation has been good and there is no doubt our history up here isn’t great but this generation of players has more experience playing on the Highveld frequently than ever before. It isn’t the barrier it used to be but it is still one that we haven’t crossed yet.”

JJ Harmse reports that “Vultures Circle over Habana”

Will Bryan Habana be back to his best on his favourite hunting ground against one of his regular victims on Saturday?

Put differently: Can the most experienced wing in the history of Springbok rugby become the lone record-holder of 39 Test tries for South Africa and also deliver the kind of performance that can chase away the vultures circling over him?

It would have been unheard of a season or so ago to talk about Habana’s possible omission, but this week the general feeling on the blogs, websites and among experts has been that the 27-year-old should be axed and that Gio Aplon should play ahead of him.

Habana’s strike rate with tries is not what it should be anymore and the past week against the All Blacks his rush defence cost the Boks a try against the All Blacks.

There are now questions about his genuine value and contribution to the team. If Habana no longer scores tries, what is he doing? The lack of tries shines the spotlight on the defensive lapses.

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Christo Buchner writes “Bismarck should start for the Boks”

South Africa must be the only rugby nation in the world that cannot find a place for Bismarck du Plessis in its starting line-up.

It’s unlikely that even the All Blacks would pass up the opportunity, but the Springboks are simply not picking him.

Sharks coach John Plumtree must be smiling broadly about the Springbok selectors’ view that John Smit, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bandise Maku are better hookers than Du Plessis. He must be laughing every week when pencilling in the name of Du Plessis on his teamsheet.

Du Plessis will again have a key role to play for the Sharks in Friday night’s Currie Cup match against Griquas in Durban.

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Gavin Rich reports “Pressure growing on ‘the other’ Steyn”

There has been a lot of focus this week on the return of Frans Steyn to the Springbok team, but his namesake Morne might arguably be under even more pressure than the Racing Metro star going into Saturday’s Vodacom Tri-Nations clash with Australia.

And if the Bulls flyhalf had been present at the press conference where coach Peter de Villiers announced the team for the match, he would have been concerned at some of the questions that were asked and the answers that were given.

The subject of Butch James, Steyn’s understudy, came up, and the coach was not afraid of backing up the general sentiment that Frans Steyn’s ability to kick goals would make it easier for James to be given both much needed game time and maybe even a start in the No 10 jersey. Player pressure reportedly brought Frans Steyn back into the squad, and it is understood that there is also a lobby of support for James among senior players and assistant coaches.

“It would have been easier to play Butch last week (at FNB Stadium) had there been another goalkicker in the team,” said De Villiers.