Ireland v South Africa: The new Springbok manager Zola Yeye has insisted the tour of Ireland and England, starting at Lansdowne Road this Saturday, will not be overshadowed by his controversial appointment.

Coach Jake White was absent from yesterday's media briefing but pre-tour talk of a player strike in response to Yeye's appointment was silenced by the SARFU and White has since come out with, albeit brief, comments of support.

White initially wanted Springbok legend Naas Botha to take the role of team manager but the union insisted on a black appointment.

Yeye, who is employed as a regional manager for South Africa's public service broadcaster SABC, was appointed until after the World Cup despite the Springbok squad and management's supposed preference for Songezo Nayo, a former CEO of the rugby union.

One particular gripe White may hold was the public criticism during this year's Tri Nations when Yeye stated: "What I see is a confused team that is being coached by a confused coach."

During yesterday's gathering in Dublin, Yeye (White and the players will be available for tomorrow's team announcement) explained his words.

"There is nothing wrong with criticism because if you love something you have to criticise it because you want it to be good. That's why you have to talk about it. That's why I said what I said then. I said it in high spirits and in passion because I've got the interests of the team at heart. I didn't say it maliciously."

So what is the current relationship with White? "Solid. It is an impeccable relationship. Remember life is about conversations and partnership. You cannot do anything if you do not have conversations and partnership. You create a dialogue with somebody. You create a chemistry that sustains you and it shows within the team. Together with Jake this team is singing from the same hymn sheet.

"Our role is to create an environment to place this team as number one in the world and also win the World Cup in 2007. We want to start with beating Ireland on Saturday."

So all is fine in South African rugby? Not exactly. Yeye - who is a former Springbok but only capped retrospectively in 2000 after lining out for an African selection during the apartheid era - admitted the country's society and consequently its primary sport remain in calamitous states.

"But life is not static. Life moves on and what is important is the transforming environment is given space so it can settle and then we will get a normal situation. At the moment, South Africa is in transitional phase politically, socially, economically and sporting."

The major priority for this tour is to blood a shadow squad that will improve player depth ahead of France 2007. There are four new caps along with a raft of unknown quantities.

Yeye, like all visiting Southern Hemisphere dignitaries, produced the usual talk of Irish "passion." At least the Triple Crown success was noted as was a respect for the Irish backline and "mobile" forwards.

When these sides last met at Lansdowne Road in 2004, Ireland famously won 17-12 thanks to a controversial Ronan O'Gara try. Referee Paul Honiss, who returns to the middle on Saturday, awarded Ireland a penalty near the Springbok try line and instructed captain Jon Smit to warn his team about further infringements. However, when Smit turned and gathered in his forwards, O'Gara tapped and dived over practically unopposed.

"Our captain was a young captain then," smiled Yeye. "He will have 60 caps and be the most capped captain (equalling Gary Teichman on 36) this Saturday so it is a milestone for him. Coming from that tour and that match he was young and green then. It's quite important that we have matured from that experience."

David Wallace was the only player to sit out Irish training yesterday at St Gerard's school in Bray. The Munster flanker was nursing an ankle injury so Keith Gleeson may be retained in the Irish camp after today's team announcement.

Eight squad members are due to depart from the Killiney base after training today and return to their provinces. Leinster play Glasgow this Saturday at Donnybrook.

The Ireland and South African squads both trained yesterday with the new Gilbert synergie ball that has been designed for next year's World Cup. Word has it it travels farther off the boot, with greater accuracy, and sticks to the hand like a glove.

Meanwhile, South Africa will wear an "unbranded" replica jersey with a white collar on Saturday to mark 100 years since a team called "The Springboks" toured Britain and Ireland. The Springbok emblem will remain on the dark green jersey, with Ireland switching to white as is rugby's custom for the home team when playing a team with similar colours.