Stormers' takeaways from the match with All Blacks could help Springboks in the main rugby rivalry

Veteran player Deon Fourie, representing the Stormers, demonstrated strong performance against the All Blacks during the initial match of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry in Cape Town. During this game, Fourie engaged in contact with All Blacks center Rieko Ioane while attempting to tackle him.

Rassie Erasmus is currently facing complex selection decisions as the Springboks prepare their squad to challenge the All Blacks in Ellis Park later this month. Given that injuries are still being evaluated, the head coach confirmed the possibility of expanding the squad to as many as 44 players, keeping the door open for various players to earn a spot.

After securing a tough 17-10 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday, the world champions are now focusing entirely on New Zealand and the upcoming Test match in Johannesburg. Erasmus stated, “We don't want to trim the squad.” He elaborated that the current roster is around 40 players (15 based in South Africa and 26 who toured with them in Argentina, totaling 41), and since New Zealand is touring with 44 players, they prefer to increase their own numbers to match, ensuring no one needs to be cut.

Erasmus further clarified that while the 15 players who trained domestically are part of the setup, it does not guarantee they will start or be in the match-day 23. The focus now shifts to assessing fitness among all players to select the team best equipped to defeat New Zealand in the first Test.

Deon Fourie proved highly valuable in the opening match in Cape Town. His contributions at the breakdown, which included slowing down the ball and securing turnovers, alongside his defensive efforts, showcased that even at 39 years old, he maintains the capability to compete at the elite level. At one point, Fourie executed three critical tackles within a fifteen-second span, successfully stopping a promising attack by New Zealand.

Furthermore, Fourie scored an important try for the Cape side, helping to bring them back into contention when the All Blacks held the advantage. This caliber of performance is expected to draw significant attention from Erasmus and his coaching staff. Upon returning to South Africa, the Sharks (on Tuesday, August 11) and Bulls (on Saturday, August 15) will offer the Bok management two additional opportunities to observe the All Blacks and identify potential additions to the expanded squad for the Tests.

The head coach of the All Blacks, Dave Rennie, believes that the Stormers will give them a serious test in the first match of the main rugby rivalry as the team continues its preparation for the long-awaited tour of South Africa.

Rennie believes that the match against the Stormers on Friday at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town will be an ideal introduction to South African rugby. He anticipates a tough first challenge against the winners of the debut United Rugby Championship (URC) before his squad focuses on four matches against the World Cup champions Springboks over the next few weeks.

Last season, the Stormers had an impressive campaign in the URC, reaching the semi-finals. Rennie predicts that they will demonstrate their signature physical power, dominance in securing possession, skill, and speed, which have become the team's trademark under John Dobson's leadership.

Speaking about the Cape Town team, Rennie noted: 'They have a great reputation. They had a pretty strong season in the URC and achieved a very good start by making it to the semi-finals. We are well aware of all the South African teams. They have many big players, they play excellent football, they are fast, and playing at a historic stadium like the DHL Stadium... we are very excited about this.'

The battle in Cape Town, where the All Blacks are expected to receive significant fan support, marks the beginning of a unique tour. It is the first time since 1996 that the Kiwis will face the Springboks in four matches during a season, while also playing mid-week against franchises.

Rennie feels this adds another interesting aspect to the series, as lessons learned each week become crucial for the next game as the rivalry develops. The new Kiwis coach explained: 'It is completely different from the World Cup. We play the same team four times, so your overview becomes your preview, and hopefully, you learn a little and do better in the next game.'

The inclusion of provincial matches is another part of the tour that Rennie highly values. After facing the Stormers, the All Blacks will play the Sharks in Durban and the Bulls in Pretoria, before the first match begins at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on August 22.

Thanks to the matches between the main games, Rennie will be able to utilize every member of the touring squad, and they can wear the famous black jersey instead of just training on the sidelines. He added: 'We have mid-week games, and that means everyone gets a chance to play. Sometimes, when you are on tour, some guys train but never get a chance to put on the jersey, so the game against the provincial teams is great for the whole squad. It is a pretty tight schedule, and there are times when one group plays while another trains on the same day. So we need to find a good balance and ensure acceptance of the country and the upcoming challenge. We must sometimes take a break from football, so we will definitely take care of some rest.'

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie spoke with the press in Cape Town on Friday, where the New Zealand team was warmly welcomed by hundreds of local fans.

The All Blacks are aware of the huge challenge awaiting them in the greatest rugby rivalry against the Springboks, but they are ready for the test posed by the world champions and the United Rugby Championship franchise.

Following a heroic reception in Cape Town on Friday, the New Zealanders are preparing for their first clash with the Stormers next week at the DHL Stadium in the Mother City.

Head coach Dave Rennie confirmed on Friday that due to the war in the Middle East, the team had to use various routes to arrive in the country. However, all players, except for team captain Ardie Savea, who is on an extended leave, are already in Cape Town before the tournament starts.

According to the All Blacks coach, some athletes had to fly through Hong Kong, Perth, and Singapore. Rennie stated on Friday: 'Everyone is here except Ardie; the last group arrived this morning.' He added: 'Yes, look, we were supposed to fly through Dubai, but obviously, because of what is happening in the Persian Gulf, we had to make later changes—maybe two or three weeks ago. We managed it. One group was supposed to fly through Hong Kong, one through Singapore, and one through Perth. Ardie will arrive right after the game against the Sharks.'

He continued: 'Our first game here in Cape Town, so we will be based here until then. But once we start playing other matches, we will travel as one team. We will not leave a group here (in Cape Town) nor send another group forward. We will be in the city and supporting each other in the stands at every match.'

Since Ardie Savea has not yet arrived in South Africa, All Blacks tour captain Cody Taylor was popular among Cape Town residents. Hundreds of people welcomed New Zealand to the Mother City before the Great Rugby Rivalry against the Springboks began.

The All Blacks will first play three matches against South African franchises, starting with the Stormers, followed by encounters with the Sharks and Bulls. The first match will take place at Ellis Park (August 22), the second at the DHL Stadium (August 29), and the third at the FNB Stadium in Soweto (September 5). Their arch-rivals will play the fourth match in Baltimore, USA.

In Rennie's opinion, the team continues to develop. Nevertheless, like the Boks, they remain undefeated in 2026, which should give them a lot of confidence before the tour.

He noted: 'We are building a team and are still a new side with a lot of new staff and young players. So we are learning a lot. But we are well aware of how difficult this challenge is; they are two-time world champions, and Erasmus did a phenomenal job here.'