Pretoria – Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is unconcerned about what happens in Saturday’s Tri-Nations Test between Australia and New Zealand but he admitted it would suit the Boks if Australia were to win the Test.

“We know if the Wallabies win it will be better for us, but what is important at this stage is that we still have our destiny in our own hands.”

The team left without any preconceived targets of how many matches they wanted to win. They play Australia in Perth on August 29 and the following weekend in Brisbane, and conclude their Tri-Nations commitments with a Test against the All Blacks in Hamilton on September 12.

As it now stands, the Springboks have 12 points from three matches, the All Blacks four from three matches and Australia one point from their two outings.

“We just want to be the best we can, and as always we take one match at a time,” De Villiers said after a hard Springbok training session at Tukkies on Friday.

He added that it would be great if the Boks could attain some bonus points in the three matches, but that was not their focus.

Questioned on whether the Springboks would heed the public call for more running rugby, De Villiers emphasised that their style of play should not be branded “kick and chase.”

“No. it isn’t that, it’s rather a case that we play the situation. We would of course prefer to play total rugby, and that is exactly what playing the situation means,” he pointed out.

Schalk Burger joined Heinrich Brussow in the lineout session against the Blue Bulls’ new Carlton Cup champions Pretoria Police. This, however, is no indication that De Villiers has made up his mind what his loose trio will look like.

The flank combination on Friday was forced upon de Villiers by the fact that Juan Smith still could not take part in training because of an ankle injury sustained in the Test against the Wallabies in Cape Town nearly two weeks ago. But should Smith be fit for the Test, the return of Burger after Brussow’s great performances in his five Tests this season will make for a selection where De Villiers will be criticised, whatever he decides.

A final decision on Smith will be taken next week.

“We will give him until at least Tuesday,” said de Villiers, “and he will have to prove himself fit.”

He admitted that he had a selection headache with the return of Burger from his eight-week suspension following the eye-gouging incident in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions in Pretoria on June 27.

Burger has played only 70 minutes since May 2 when he left the field after 33 minutes in a Tri-Nations match. However, he did not hold back at all during a very physical “koppestamp” session where the Springbok forwards had a full go at one another in an extended series or rucks and phase ball practice with some mauling thrown into the equation.

“Our policy is that the players do not compete for a place in the team. That is for the opposition to do. Rather we sit down and learn from one another, sharing intellectual property, as it were.

“Selection is a headache,” De Villiers said when asked about the Brussow and Burger issue, “but it is actually a greater problem for the players. They all hope not to get injured, because the road back is now very hard,” he smiled about his dilemma.

It certainly is far from a final indication, but conjecture that Morne Steyn will be replaced at flyhalf by Ruan Pienaar was not evident at the (second) open training session on Friday where the Bulls flyhalf was part of the same backline that beat the Wallabies.

The Springboks are leaving for Australia on two flights, necessitated by seat availability. The late departure, on Monday and Tuesday nights respectively, is not regarded as a problem. With the time difference between South Africa and Perth only six hours plus the fact that the Super 14 winners Bulls have pronounced themselves happy with departing only three to four days before the match the Bok management does not see this as a problem.

Instead, they feel that training in South Africa until Monday holds more positives that the negatives of the late departures.