South Africa vs New Zealand: Springboks Prepare for All Blacks’ New Tactic

The highly anticipated Test match between long-standing rivals South Africa and New Zealand, part of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, is set to electrify Johannesburg this Saturday.

The build-up to this first clash has been nothing short of extraordinary, marked by verbal exchanges between coaches, injury concerns on both sides, and a shared acknowledgment of each other's strengths, culminating in palpable excitement and nervousness from both camps.

Springbok boss, Rassie Erasmus, has been meticulous in his preparations, flagging a new All Blacks tactic and expressing concerns over the formidable threat posed by their tight five. After dissecting the opposition's announced squad, Erasmus highlighted an unusual strategy involving New Zealand's back three, specifically how they negate the aerial contest.

He noted their innovative approach where a winger runs backward to catch the ball, contrasting it with the more conventional forward run by a fullback or winger. While acknowledging it as a "wonderful strategy and very clever and innovative," Erasmus revealed that the Springboks are actively working on ways to counter this shrewd ploy.

Regarding the tight five battle, Erasmus recognized the physical stature of the All Blacks' lock pairing, Josh Lord and Fabian Holland, as a genuine threat.

However, he expressed confidence in his own line-out jumpers, including Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, and Ruan Nortjé, emphasizing that the contest will hinge on the combination of the hooker, the calling system, and strategic contesting.

He also anticipated "trick plays" from the All Blacks, similar to the iconic Woodcock play, involving in-and-outs into the vacuum, and noted their strong mauling game supported by excellent hookers in Codie Taylor and the "monster" Asafo Aumua off the bench.

Despite Taylor's renowned throwing accuracy, Erasmus believes the line-out will be a closely contested area of the game.

Turning to the Springbok team selection, Erasmus demonstrated his unique approach by backing Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to start at flyhalf, despite the youngster missing a significant portion of the Stormers’ season and producing a rusty performance in his recent comeback against Argentina.

Erasmus cited Feinberg-Mngomezulu's instrumental role in the 43-10 victory over the All Blacks in Wellington last year as a key reason for his selection, highlighting his understanding of the team’s strategy and strong training performances.

Grant Williams will wear the No. 9 jersey at scrumhalf, with experienced players Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok providing depth off the bench.

A significant milestone will be celebrated by Damian de Allende, who is set to earn his 100th Test cap. Erasmus praised de Allende as a "great team man and servant to the game," expressing hope for a memorable day for him, while noting that de Allende's focus remains solely on the match.

The Springbok starting XV includes Damian Willemse at fullback, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse on the wings, Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende in the centers, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at flyhalf and Grant Williams at scrumhalf.

The formidable forward pack features Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit (c), Paul de Villiers, Ruan Nortjé, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, and Ox Nché. The bench provides robust options with Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zachary Porthen, Cobus Wiese, André Esterhuizen, Marco van Staden, Cobus Reinach, and Manie Libbok. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:10 in Johannesburg, promising a fierce encounter.