Rassie Erasmus and Jaco van der Westhuizen deny narrative of Springboks slowing down play ahead of All Blacks match

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.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus faces a difficult selection challenge ahead of the upcoming test series against the All Blacks, as captain Siya Kolisi is once again in doubt due to a recurring hamstring injury.

Kolisi sustained the injury just 24 minutes into his return appearance against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday. Although Erasmus remains optimistic about the severity of the issue, the short preparation window forces the coaching staff to develop contingency plans for both the backline combination and the bench squad.

If Kolisi cannot take the field, Paul de Villiers, a player for the Stormers, is the most likely candidate to start at open flanker. De Villiers demonstrated outstanding play during the World Club Championship in July, establishing himself as a key threat in ball retention and a dynamic ball carrier while Kolisi was on the bench.

However, promoting De Villiers to the starting lineup triggers a chain reaction in the match-day squad, particularly regarding who will provide late-game impact from the bench within the famous 'Bomb Squad.' Under normal circumstances, De Villiers would likely replace the dynamic Kwagga Smith, who is sidelined with a long-term knee injury.

If Kolisi were fit to play, De Villiers would provide an explosive, game-changing role off the bench in the traditional 6-2 ratio. If De Villiers starts, Erasmus must decide who will fill this critical role. Veteran Dion Fourie offers immense experience in ball retention and versatility, as he can play at hooker, making him an attractive option to replicate Smith's destructive impact late in the game.

Alternatively, Marco van Staden provides raw physical power and relentless work rate in tight spaces, offering a more direct, power-based impact, as well as a threat in the air.

The forward reserve group adds another interesting dimension to the discussion. Erasmus successfully utilized the heavy artillery bench against Argentina by bringing on two locks, Kobus Wiesse and Ben-Jason Dixon, to dominate set pieces and collisions in the final quarters. Repeating this tactic against New Zealand would allow them to maintain maximum power in the middle of the park, and their versatility also allows them to operate as backline players.

If the Boks opt for greater versatility at open flanker in the 6-2 setup, they might reduce the number of specialized locks on the bench to one. In that scenario, World Cup two-time winner Pieter-Steph du Toit could transition from blindside flanker to lock in the second half, allowing two specialized 'hunters' like Van Staden and Fourie to remain on the bench when the game becomes tight in the final quarter.

There is also the intriguing possibility of completely abandoning the 6-2 setup in favor of a 5-3 ratio. Such a move would likely depend on the inclusion of Andre Esterhuizen. This fast centre possesses the size, defensive aggression, and strength to act as a hybrid backline player in emergencies, providing the Boks with extra cover in the backline without completely sacrificing forward power.

Esterhuizen made a huge impression off the bench as a hybrid player against the All Blacks in Wellington last year, and he proved invaluable when the Boks were reduced to 14 men against France after Lud de Jager's red card during their November tour. Given that marginal differences will be decisive, Erasmus's final choice will hinge on the trade-off between raw forward depth and tactical adaptability. Replacing Kolisi's leadership and work rate will require a flawless combination of starting effectiveness and bench influence.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus emphasized that his team is not focused on the All Blacks ahead of the match against Argentina. He once again rejected the notion that the upcoming clash with Argentina is merely a preliminary rehearsal for the great rugby rivalry against the All Blacks, insisting that such remarks are disrespectful to the Pumas team.

Speaking in Buenos Aires after the team squad announcement, the Springboks coach showed some irritation when asked if the game was just a 'warm-up' before the four-match series against New Zealand. Erasmus reiterated his point, saying: 'I know I've been saying this for the last two weeks, but I will say it again.'

He explained that if the Pumas coach or one of their players heard Springboks discussing the All Blacks at a press conference instead of Argentina, it would be an insult. 'We are playing the Pumas on Saturday, not the All Blacks. Our only goal this week is to try and beat Argentina in Argentina, which has always been a difficult task, regardless of what people believe.'

Rassie Erasmus noted that they have lost in Argentina several times, including a 32-19 defeat in 2018, which was one of their biggest deficits since he started as head coach. He also stated that his insistence on highlighting the danger of Argentina is not stubbornness.

Erasmus added that Argentine players will participate in the matches against New Zealand. There are players in the squad trying to secure a spot in the national team for this series. They might start the first match or play about 50 minutes, depending on the form of Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth. He also mentioned that the New Zealand tour will last seven weeks and consist of four matches, comparable to a World Cup group stage and representing a very long period on the road. According to him, such a period resembles the World Cup, where after a month one can argue about who is still participating in the tournament.

Thus, Erasmus concluded that this match is critically important for them.