Campo Sledge 'an Exaggeration'

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday July 8, 2006

Greg Growden

FORMER NSW assistant coach Brian Melrose yesterday said that comments attributed to him by David Campese about a lack of talented players in the Super 14 tournament were "grossly exaggerated".

Campese, in the New Zealand-Australia Test program on sale in Christchurch, said he had had a discussion with Melrose last year. Campese said that Melrose told him "in the Super 14 he thought he would have some talented players but he said he didn't and that their skills are poor".

Melrose was upset by Campese's comments, yesterday explaining: "To say that I said there are no talented players in the Super 14 is wrong. He [Campese] has misunderstood something which was said in a private conversation. What I said is that no one is perfect and occasionally the skill levels of some players in the tournament is tested. There is a raft of talented players out there."

*In Johannesburg, Reuters reports that Springboks coach Jake believes that the spate of injuries afflicting the team may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. South Africa left for Australia and the away leg of their Tri Nations campaign on Friday with injuries that have ruled out nearly a dozen players.

"Against France two weeks ago there were 10 guys who have been a core part of the team in the last 29 Tests who couldn't make the match 22 because of injury," White said.

"But we have to make the most of it and I'm excited to see how the young guys we've brought in perform Down Under. It's a chance for other players while the group of very talented guys who are injured get the opportunity for some much-needed recovery time."

The injury list, which included breakaway Schalk Burger, lengthened on Wednesday when second-rower Bakkies Botha and centre Jean de Villiers were ruled out of the tour. Botha may require surgery for the calf injury he suffered at the end of the Super 14 and has been replaced by Johann Muller.

The Springboks have not replaced De Villiers, the first-choice inside centre, with White ignoring the experience of Andre Snyman and De Wet Barry.

Four new caps - hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, breakaway Pierre Spies, fullback JP Pietersen and winger Akona Ndungane - have been included in the squad.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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