NEW Zealand's emphatic 19-8 victory over world champions South Africa in the opening Tri-Nations match was marred by the one-game suspension handed down to lock Brad Thorn after the match.
Thorn was found guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct at a judicial hearing yesterday for picking up South African hooker John Smit in the sixth minute and unceremoniously dumping him on his back.
The 33-year-old was one of New Zealand's stand-out
performers in an exemplary forward display in wet and windy conditions at Westpac Stadium, and his physical presence will be sorely missed in Saturday's match at Carisbrook, Dunedin.
The Springboks threw themselves into contact and more than competed at the breakdown, but the feeling among many at the ground was that the final scoreline would have had a fairer look if All Black centre Conrad Smith's legitimate-looking second-half try had not been disallowed.
But New Zealand coach Graham Henry was not getting too far ahead of himself after the match, believing the South Africans would fight back in Dunedin. "I think it's very early," he said. "We are just pleased to come through with the win. We have a lot of improving to do. I think South Africa will be a much improved team next week. That will give them the fire in the belly."
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers, who has tried to introduce a more expansive style to his team's back play, said his side had probably made too many errors with their tactical kicking and forced too many passes.
"I don't think we read the situation that well," said de Villiers. "There are things that we need to work on and I think the kicking game will be one of them."
Smit echoed his coach's comments, saying they would need to shut down the kicking game of All Blacks fly-half Daniel Carter and be more composed when they had possession.
"I think we gave Dan...a little too much space to kick into," said Smit, who admitted he had been injured in the Thorn incident and limped off just before half-time. "I think we could have been a little bit more patient and composed."
But De Villiers said he was not overly concerned and would continue to put faith in his side to take an attacking approach. "If I make it too personal, then it will rub off on the players and they won't have belief in themselves," he said. "But I believe there is too much talent in this team for them to just lie down."
Meanwhile, hooker Schalk Brits has been called up to the squad as a precautionary measure after Smit's injury.
"The flight from Cape Town to Wellington can be as long as 20 hours and we have therefore decided to call on Schalk so that the team can have sufficient cover in that area if needed," said de Villiers.
The extent of the groin injury suffered by Smit in the controversial off-the-ball incident will be determined today.
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