Morne van den Berg stated that the Springboks will confront the entire All Blacks team, not just Kam Roigard

Ahead of the upcoming match against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium on Saturday, Springboks players have shown confidence similar to that before a World Cup playoff. The team approaches this confrontation, dubbed the 'Clash in the Calabash,' with a mentality that helped them win major trophies.

Assistant coach Mzwandile Stik noted that the team is employing the same tactics that helped them win in the most significant tournaments. In their recent history, there has often been a decisive response following an early defeat.

The Springboks lost their first match against the All Blacks at Ellis Park but managed to balance the series by playing in Cape Town last week. Now that the series score is 1–1, they head to Soccer City, knowing that a victory will bring them closer to winning the series.

Approach to the Series

Stik stated: 'From the beginning, we said we would treat this series like a World Cup playoff campaign.' This mindset explains the stability of the Springboks squad this week, as only changes due to injuries were made to the team that defeated New Zealand in Cape Town.

The All Blacks, in turn, draw confidence from their past success at Highveld in the professional era. Stik understands that the team will not be intimidated by the altitude, and he is also aware of what is at stake for New Zealand. He added: 'If they win tomorrow, they will claim they beat us 2–1 on our ground, so we know exactly what drives them. We also want to defend what we represent as South Africans.'

He emphasized that regardless of the outcome, the winner will gain a real chance to win the broader series during the fourth match in Baltimore, while the losing team will only be able to level the score. Both teams will desperately need a result.

Tactical Aspects of the Match

Stik expects the battle to be very tough, especially in the contest for the ball after contact. 'We were weak in the ball contest in the first match, but we didn't concede any in the second. We still want to improve our play in this area because we know they will target it again with selected players. If we want to create opportunities, we must be clinical in this regard.'

The Springboks also plan to utilize their traditional strengths to limit the attacking potential of the All Blacks. Stik noted: 'Set-piece play is one of our biggest attacking platforms; we want to move forward, we have never been a team that bypasses contact, so if we get opportunities in the scrum or lineout, we will try to dominate.'

He continued that New Zealand will want to keep the ball in play and avoid contesting the ball and set pieces, which aligns with their game plan, but the Springboks know what suits them better.

The South Africans previously followed a similar path to success: they lost matches in the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, as well as the 2021 British & Irish Lions series, but then responded with an unbeaten run and ultimately lifted the trophy.

Stik explained that the changes made after the first match were mainly forced, and some were due to injuries. He added that the players understand the series plan, as in such situations at the World Cup, you always want to field the strongest available squad. Although some young players who got a chance to shine were unlucky, several veterans returned from injury and immediately took their positions.

The All Blacks have made adjustments to their squad, although Stik believes the core of their team remains unchanged. 'New Zealand has made a few changes, but you probably know their best 23-man squad, and the core of their team hasn't changed much. They have combinations that work.'

Since the series is tense, Stik believes it lives up to all expectations. 'This rivalry justifies its name, perhaps the best in the world historically, and people get value for their tickets because you never know who will win.'

The ferocious rush defense of the Springboks, which has served as a cornerstone of their success for nearly a decade, is showing signs of weakness this season.

This defensive system, designed to stifle opposing playmakers, restrict width, and provoke mistakes, is known for its intense commitment. However, the Springboks have recently conceded an unusual number of tries, not only during the current high-stakes series against the All Blacks but also in their Nations Championship fixtures against England and Scotland.

The defensive frailties have manifested in several ways. Against Scotland, the Boks were repeatedly vulnerable to inside balls, as attackers capitalized on minor gaps created when defenders advanced too aggressively without securing their inner shoulder.

A similar vulnerability was observed when playing Ireland at home in 2024, where runners exploited weaknesses by attacking both sides of the ball carrier before executing a quick inside pass.

Противостояние величайших соперников регби

Against the All Blacks, the problems have surfaced on the wider parts of the field. A contributing factor involves positional inaccuracies within the rush structure, which were worsened by necessary backline adjustments during the first two Tests.

In the initial Test, injuries in the backline required central defensive linchpin Jesse Kriel to move to the wing, which immediately compromised the communication center at the outside centre position.

During the second Test in Cape Town, indecision regarding structure proved detrimental on the edges. Ethan Hooker, despite performing well overall, struggled with defensive shifts, being unsure whether to defend narrowly or hold wide, leaving him exposed as New Zealand utilized the outer channel.

The All Blacks have also demonstrated clever adaptations to circumvent South Africa's line speed. In Cape Town, New Zealand's attacks frequently originated from deeper positions before initiating their plays. By maintaining a deep stance, their playmakers gained valuable extra time, compelling the Bok rush to overcommit prematurely before distributing the ball through passing lanes into the open space near the outside shoulder.

Flyhalf Ruben Love has been instrumental in this strategy, supported by forwards who delivered superior ball through short passes from the backfield compared to their Springbok teammates. Love consistently appears behind the play after making an initial pass, acting as a reserve player who has significantly troubled the Boks in these wide areas.

Historically, the Springboks have relied on their exceptional scrambling ability to neutralize line breaks. However, the current All Blacks squad possesses such high quality that they have managed to inflict damage whenever given even a slight opportunity.

Acknowledging this danger, the Springboks implemented a significant tactical change in the second half at DHL Stadium. Instead of attacking from the outside-in to suppress the ball carrier, they switched to defending from the inside-out, prioritizing alignment, drift, and tracking to seal off the wide channels.

As the Springboks prepare for the third Test at FNB Stadium in Soweto, improving the precision of their rush defense is crucial, as it remains a powerful tool when executed correctly. The system depends entirely on players making astute choices to enter passing lanes without overextending, while simultaneously committing fully to intercepting both the opponent and the ball.

To regain their formidable reputation, the Boks must eradicate hesitation on the edges and reinstate the precise, suffocating discipline that once earned them world championship status.

Rassie Erasmus emphasized the importance for the Springboks of playing home matches in 2026, especially the third game against the All Blacks, which will allow them to avoid losing the series.

Erasmus explained that the series is extremely important for the team, which they desperately want to win. After losing the first game and winning the second, the team decided to keep the squad, considering it the best decision for one of the key matches of the series.

He noted: 'We cannot win (the series) this Saturday, but we can guarantee that we won't lose it, as the last match will be either a draw or (a complete victory in the series). Therefore, we just feel that this is the best team to achieve our goal this weekend.'

Next week, the 'Greatest Rivalry' tour will conclude in Baltimore, making the match at the FNB stadium near Soweto the last for the Boks in the country in 2026. Erasmus added: 'This is our last match on South African soil in 2026. We would like to give our fans a victory.'

If the team does not resolve its defensive issues, the All Blacks may take advantage of it. In the first two matches, the All Blacks repeatedly caught the Boks off guard in wide areas where an unprotected player was always present. The Kiwis scored nine points against four South Africans.

Erasmus commented on the Kiwis' game, noting: 'They were brilliant in the wide areas. That is what they do very well under Dave Rennie. Under his attacking coach, they are hard to stop.'

He also spoke about Mike Blair, the former Scottish midfielder recruited by Rennie: 'Their two halves were the result of individual defensive errors. They beat us and outsmarted us in the other two, and we must be ready for that. So this is an area where we must improve.'

Furthermore, Erasmus stated that the South Africans had to work harder for their points than their opponents because the Kiwis have players who individually surpass the Boks players physically: 'Undoubtedly, that is something we must fix.'

Erasmus formed a starting lineup that differs only slightly from the squad that won in Cape Town. Damian Willemse was replaced by Cheslin Kolbe at fullback, and Kurt-Lee Arendse plays on the flank instead of Kolbe. Recently, before last week's match, Erasmus fielded a reserve front line consisting of Gerhard Steenkamp, Dion Fourie, and Thomas du Toit in the starting lineup, while Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, and Vilko Lou played on the bench.

Erasmus explained how this was possible: 'We did it, it worked. I see that there was some issue with this. But an hour before the match, when you submit your player list, if they are in your 23-man squad, you can change the entire bench and start other guys if you want.'

He confirmed the legality of this action: 'It complies with the rules of the game. Frankly, we thought it would be a very wet match, and there is no doubt that heavier players scrum better on heavy fields, and lighter ones on firm fields. This weekend we plan to stick to this starting lineup.'