The Stormers, Sharks, and Bulls demonstrated potential vulnerabilities of the All Blacks to the Springboks during the series of the greatest rugby rivalry. These teams showed where the New Zealand national team might face difficulties ahead of the first test match, which will take place at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The Greatest Rugby Rivalry
Like the Stormers, the Bulls managed to score a brilliant try thanks to a strong lineout, catching the All Blacks' defense off guard. This moment attracted the attention of the Springboks, who are preparing for the opening test match at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Three teams from the United Rugby Championship franchises provided a clear picture of what aspects could be weak points for the All Blacks. Despite the New Zealanders securing confident victories over the Sharks and Bulls after strong resistance from the Stormers in the first match, each team identified certain weaknesses in the 'Kiwis' squad that the world champions' team will focus on.
Leighton Kopman is looking at five areas that could become targets for the Boks in the first test match at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Scrums
Despite playing stronger against the Bulls in this aspect, the Stormers and Sharks showed the Springboks that an effective way to counter the All Blacks is to attack through the forwards. Furthermore, the South African scrum, despite the injury to Ox Nche, still demonstrates significant power.
The All Blacks experienced pressure during scrums in different phases of the game, as their front row players struggled with the challenge. The Springboks hope to use this opportunity to create a platform for pressure and scoring in Ellis Park.
Lineout and Ruck Defense
Another element that revealed cracks in the friendly matches was the lineout and ruck defense. This is a specialty of the world champions—using powerful lineout movements to score tries or create a foundation for strong attacks in the opponent's half.
'The Kiwis' will know what to expect, but stopping it is another matter, especially since the Boks squad aims to dominate from the start. A strong ruck will allow the South Africans to vary their style of play based on it.
Slow Start
Usually, New Zealand cannot be compared to having a slow start in rugby. They traditionally are the standard for a fast start in the first twenty minutes, after which they take control of the game. However, their inability to do so allowed the Stormers, Sharks, and Bulls to continue fighting until the timeout. Such a slow start is uncharacteristic of the All Blacks, and this could be something the Springboks can exploit in subsequent matches.
Untested Combinations
Injuries in the 'Kiwis' squad may force head coach Dave Rennie to select untested combinations against the cohesive machine of the Springboks, and the home team will be ready to exploit weak links. The All Blacks have already lost key players during their tour, and any further setbacks could result in them having combinations that haven't spent enough time together. The Boks intend to test this from the first whistle.
Power at High Ball
The All Blacks squad lacks the specialized winger Will Jordan, who is considered one of the most comfortable players with high passes. Moreover, the visitors did not demonstrate fully convincing play when using 'up and down' passes. This is another area that the Boks, including Cheslin Kolbe, Damian Willemse, and Kurt-Lee Arendse, can use and actively attack against the visitors. Accurate passes can lead to turnovers and infringements, opening up opportunities for counterattacks.