Springboks coach's assistant Mzwandile Stik stated that the team expects the All Blacks to stick to their running-based playing style in the third match of the greatest rugby rivalry, which will take place on Saturday in Soweto.
The Greatest Rugby Rivalry
The All Blacks have openly declared their plan for approaching the decisive match against the Springboks at the FNB Stadium in Soweto. Mzwandile Stik, Springboks assistant coach, predicts that they firmly adhere to their attacking DNA.
During their tour, the New Zealand team demonstrated an intention to keep the ball in play constantly and challenge the defensive structure through attack, rather than simply giving up possession via kicks. As a result, they scored nine touchdowns in two matches, and their attack proved difficult to contain even by a well-drilled defense like the Boks'.
After the Springboks won 33-26 in Cape Town last week, the series is tied 1-1. Stik believes the All Blacks will maintain their approach. They included hooker Asaph Auamu, lock Sam Darby, and winger Peter Lakai, known for their carrying abilities, in the starting lineup, leaving powerful reserves on the bench for the upcoming confrontation.
A large crowd of over 80,000 spectators is expected for the final match of the greatest rugby rivalry on South African soil. The fourth and final match is scheduled for next weekend in Baltimore.
'I think their message is clear. They are not playing hide-and-seek. They say how they want to play, and when they get on the field, they play exactly that way,' said Stik on Friday.
He continued: 'You see, as I told you, we can all see that New Zealand now wants to use the time with the ball, you know? They want to keep the ball in their hands. And if you look at the personnel currently in this team, a player like (Peter) Lakai in the starting lineup brings them huge impact every time he comes off the bench.'
Stik noted that having reserves such as (Wallace) Cityte indicates the team's desire to have more ball carriers who can keep the ball in play. He also mentioned that (Tupu) Va'a is one of the strong and good ball carriers.
'So, once again, this is one thing I like about our current situation. As we always say, we have our DNA, and they have theirs, which is that we know it's about time with the ball. They want to put the ball into space, and we also have our way of doing that,' he emphasized.
'I don't think they will change their playing style regardless of the weather conditions; they will still try to impose their DNA on us. We will try to do the same.'