THE SPRINGBOKS have once more deferred selection of the team for the second Test at King's Park on Saturday. And while the official reason is that they are waiting for injury reports on some of their players, notably centres Edrich Lubbe and Japie Mulder, there are indications that there is some indecision in the wake of the defeat last Saturday.

The team will not now be announced until tomorrow. Originally the intention was that the side would be named on Sunday and that was then deferred until yesterday. However, when the squad flew from Cape Town yesterday afternoon to their headquarters at Umhlanga about 10 miles from Durban, it was announced by coach Carel du Plessis that the team would now be named tomorrow.

Du Plessis, who admitted that he is under pressure said: "We are awaiting injury reports before we select the team. Additional players may be called into the squad. We have a shortlist of additional players".

However, du Plessis was not prepared to disclose the names. He was due to make contact with the players in question last night.

There has been criticism here that Hennie Le Roux, a World Cup centre, is not in the team - he is not even in the squad. Le Roux, from Transvaal (Gauteng), has had some conflict with Louis Luyt, the South African Rugby Union president who is also president of the Transvaal Union. Du Plessis has denied than any pressure has been put on him as to who to select or, more appropriately, not to select.

Le Roux played twice against the Lions on this tour, for the Eastern Province invitation side and for his home province, Gauteng. It is perhaps significant that when Le Roux's name was mentioned as one of the players who might be called into the squad, du Plessis said that all "players in form will be considered".

Du Plessis promised a much improved performance from the Springboks on Saturday. "No, I have not changed my mind from what I said after the Test defeat, but if anything, the disappointment is more acute," he said. However, he added that he would stand by his policy of playing a game that is innovative.

"I will not alter my focus. We gave away first phase possession or used it badly and the second and third phase was too static and that certainly enabled the Lions to defend as well as they did."

With regard to the criticism he has had to take over the weekend, he said: "That and pressure go with the job ... We must now pick ourselves up for a really big effort".