Springbok coach under pressure to leave stars out of 'Grand Slam' bid

South Africa face a difficult decision regarding whether to rest players later this year as the world champions balance the threat of player burnout against a rare chance of a Grand Slam of victories in Europe.

The Grand Slam, which South Africa has achieved just three times in nearly 100 years, could "complicate" things ahead of South Africa's World Cup defense in New Zealand in 12 months' time, captain John Smit said yesterday.

The Springboks will look to beat England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales on the same tour for the first time in 50 years when they face the countries on four successive weekends in November.

Yet, coach Peter de Villiers has already said he will use the end-of- season tour as a chance to give some of his players a much-needed break ahead of the World Cup year. Smit, however, thinks some will still want to play.

"It (the Grand Slam tour) certainly would complicate planning, yes," Smit said, on the eve of South Africa's final Tri-Nations match of the season - a meeting with Australia in Bloemfontein today. "It is not something that you would want to give up easily."

For senior players like Smit, 32, and 33-year-old vice-captain Victor Matfield, it will be the last chance at a Grand Slam. Smit and Matfield are expected to retire after the World Cup.

De Villiers has said some of his players have played more than 2,000 minutes of rugby this season, with team specialists advising players should play around 1,400 minutes.

Matfield stated last week in the buildup to his 100th test that he could play 10 more games this season - and did not want a break.

To rest or not rest players would be "a tricky thing" for South Africa to manage, said Smit. "You have got to look at each individual and see what he has done and see what needs to be done."

"Whether they have got too much, too little (game time), how old they are, how young they are. I think that planning will certainly start taking place once we have ended this Tri-Nations."

Resting players may complicate an agreementthat the world champions would take its best team on tour.

"If you rested two or three guys, it wouldn't be saying that we weren't having a crack at it," Smit added. "We've identified quite a number of youngsters who are going to be great Springboks one day and can play at that level."

Ahead of today's Nelson Mandela Plate decider between the 'Boks and Wallabies, Smit says they are both already preparing for the World Cup.

He said: "Both coaches know that the result is all important, but also want to know exactly where they are sitting a year out from the World Cup."

South Africa: F Steyn, JP Pietersen, J Fourie, J de Villiers, B Habana, M Steyn, F Hougaard; G Steenkamp, J Smit (captain), J du Plessis, V Matfield, D Rossouw, S Burger, J Smith, P Spies.Subs: C Ralepelle, CJ van der Linde, F van der Merwe, R Januarie, R Kankowski, J de Jongh G Aplon.

Australia: K Beale, J O'Connor, A Ashley-Cooper, M Giteau, D Mitchell, Q Cooper, W Genia; B Robinson, S Moore, S Ma'afu, M Chisholm, N Sharpe, R Elsom (captain), D Pocock, B McCalman. Subs: S Fainga'a, J Slipper, D Mumm, R Brown, L Burgess, B Barnes, A Fainga'a.