Rubin Fleck predicts tough battle against All Blacks, warns opponents about Dave Rennie's tactics

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie expresses a desire for referees to speed up the pace of matches during the biggest rugby rivalry. However, critics note that before complaining about the slow pace of the game, the coach should address the team's internal issues.

Despite the New Zealanders stating their desire to play at a fast pace, an analysis of the first two matches of the tour in the great rivalry shows that the game against the Springboks presents a completely different challenge. The New Zealand team faced two United Rugby Championship (URC) teams that were in pre-season form, and it is natural that the pace of the game against the world's second-ranked team eventually caught up with them in the second half of both encounters.

Nevertheless, the Boks players are prepared for high-intensity matches lasting over 80 minutes, and Rennie's team should be ready for a tense confrontation in the first match at Ellis Park stadium. This could become a psychological game on the part of the All Blacks coach, as New Zealand looked more composed in the last few matches between these sides when intensity increased.

Therefore, the comments of the All Blacks head coach after the first two tour matches should be viewed with caution, considering the upcoming match at altitude on Saturday, and then the match against the Springboks next week. This game will show whether the visitors can maintain the pace when their scrum is closely scrutinized by the world champions, and their rolling maul works in reverse, similar to what happened against the Stormers in the first match.

In the previous match, both teams slowed down the game when the Cape Town side still had energy, and the score was 14-14 at one point. However, the guests' excellent physical condition was demonstrated against two URC clubs, and it will be interesting to see if Rennie will stick to the same position after the first match.

Unlike Boks coach Rassie Erasmus, the New Zealand mentor interacted with the referees involved in the series and had the opportunity to convey to them points he would like to see in the matches for the first time. Erasmus recently expressed regret over the new protocols according to which official requests submitted by coaches are available to competing teams and other referees.

Erasmus reported last month how the system now works: 'Now the day referee sends you an email asking if you want to meet, and if both coaches do not agree, there will be no meeting; but if both coaches agree, they meet with the referee.'

This certainly makes the upcoming series interesting, but publicly expressing concerns about the opponent slowing down the game could cause problems for the All Blacks when they face the world champions.

After two matches on South African soil, the All Blacks showed the Springboks that they are ready to adapt to any challenges posed by the great rugby rivalry.

In the first match, the teams secured a tight victory over the Stormers in Cape Town. However, on Tuesday, they displayed a completely different level of play, achieving a convincing 54-0 victory over the Sharks in Durban, despite extremely difficult weather conditions.

This result highlighted the team's ability, under the guidance of Dave Rennie, to adapt to circumstances. Despite the rain and slippery surface, the team maintained its attacking potential and also demonstrated an ability to win using a more pragmatic approach.

These actions did not go unnoticed by the Springboks' head coach, Rassie Erasmus, and his coaching staff, who closely studied the All Blacks' game ahead of the first test match next Saturday at Ellis Park stadium.

In the wet conditions, New Zealand's attacking power was not suppressed; their passing game was particularly impressive, as they repeatedly found space behind the Sharks' defense. The team's ability to recognize opportunities and change tactics in difficult situations will be another warning for the world champions.

The third and final match against the United Rugby Championship team will take place on Saturday when the All Blacks face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. This match presents a different challenge, as the altitude will test the visitors after they have faced contrasting conditions in Cape Town and Durban.

Loftus, located at an altitude of approximately 1,350 meters above sea level, will provide the All Blacks with a final test before traveling to Johannesburg for the first test match. If they can overcome the effects of altitude and show another convincing performance, the New Zealanders will conclude an impressive three-match cycle against top South African teams in the URC.

More importantly for the Springboks, the All Blacks demonstrated across three very different environments that they are not preparing for the great rivalry using only one style of play. Although they intend to dominate the Bokke through their polished technique and high-tempo style, they can easily switch to a more measured approach when the situation demands it.

Regardless of the conditions awaiting them at Ellis Park, Erasmus will know that they will likely be prepared after these three encounters.

The dynamic Springboks player, tighthead Zach Potten, demonstrated powerful play against England's defenders during the Nations Cup match held at Ellis Park stadium.

Keegan Smith's long knee injury has undoubtedly weakened the famous Springboks 'Bomb Squad'. For years, Smith brought incredible energy, speed, and strength to the Bok squad in the second half of matches. His ability to fiercely compete in the contact area to steal or slow down the opponent's ball is legendary, and his experience in the seven-metre format allows him to cover the entire field as a supporting runner with exceptional awareness and foresight.

The closest player to Smith in the current Springboks squad is Paul de Villiers, whose form improved after every Nations Cup match. However, it is likely he will start against the All Blacks at Ellis Park after captain Siya Kolisi sustained an injury during the match against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

The Boks have other options in the backline, such as Marco van Staden and Ben-Jason Dixon, but they do not possess Smith's unique dynamism. Nevertheless, the solution to the Keegan Smith issue might lie in the front row, where young prop Zach Potten has made several important contributions as a substitute player.

Main Rugby Match of the Tour

At 22 years old, Potten, a former captain of the Springboks junior team, has established himself as one of the main contenders for the number 18 spot in the first match against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, competing with Thomas du Toit and Wilko Louw. His consistent development throughout the Nations Cup and strong performance in the second half against Argentina last week have strengthened his position in Rassie Erasmus' plans.

When Potten was introduced to the 'Bomb Squad' at José Amalfitani Stadium, he provided the necessary physical impetus and work rate to change the course of the tense confrontation in South Africa's favour. Although his skills in set-piece play are still developing under scrummaging coach Duane Human, Potten, like Smith, possesses a versatile set of open-field skills, making him a formidable prospect on the bench.

The Stormers' strength lies in his explosive ball carrying; he constantly gains meters through sheer leg power and post-contact battle. It is worth noting that he is also adept at handling the ball softly and has distribution vision, allowing for accurate passes and back passes, adding dynamism to the Springboks' attack system. Furthermore, Potten demonstrates enormous work rate in the contact area, tirelessly clearing rucks to maintain clean possession or breaking through with a 'pick-and-go'. His understanding of the game in these tight areas is outstanding.

His defensive statistics are also very high. According to Grubbr Stats, Potten leads all South Africans in the United Rugby Championship for dominant tackles, averaging 3.9 per 80 minutes. Even more impressively, he led the entire URC in the percentage of dominant tackles, showing a phenomenal 28% of hits that drove opposing attackers backward. While his scrummaging skills will continue to improve, Potten's complete open-field skillset—a combination of fierce defense, contact area work, and modern ball carrying—makes him an ideal weapon for the biggest stage at Ellis Park and a man capable of igniting the 'Bomb Squad' in Smith's absence.