The third match in the greatest rugby rivalry between the Springboks and the All Blacks will take place on Saturday afternoon in Johannesburg. The atmosphere is heated following the intense match in Cape Town, which ended with a victory for the Springboks. As a result, the series is tied at 1-1, as the New Zealand team won the first game at Ellis Park.
In Highveld, both teams aim to gain an advantage before the final match in Baltimore, USA, next Saturday. We will examine five key player duels that could influence the course of this competition, which will be held at the FNB stadium in Soweto.
The Greatest Rugby Rivalry
Springboks flyhalf, Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, intends to assert his influence over the All Blacks in the third match, which will be held on Saturday in Johannesburg.
Key Confrontations
Jasper Wiese versus Ardie Savea
The clash between these two players at number 8 is expected to set the physical tone of the game, as both are known for their powerful playing style and willingness to take risks in both attack and defense. The Boks team relies on Wiese for powerful runs and forward momentum, but his work in ball retrieval will also be crucial. Savea is the heart of the All Blacks squad, and his inspiring runs are critical for this team's fast pace. It can be expected that they will fiercely compete against each other for an advantage.
Wilko Lou versus George Bower
Bower noted his love for the scrum this week, while Lou's favorite activity on the field is creating problems for opponents in scrums. There has been fierce scrummaging since the first match, and this element of the game played a significant role off the field. It is hoped that on Saturday both teams can play in the scrum with minimal penalties from referee Nicky Amashukeli, as was the case in Cape Town. Both props will strive to provide forward movement for their team, and the battle between the destructive Lou and the stable Bower could be exciting.
Eben Ezebeta versus Tupu Vaai
This confrontation of 'heavyweights' is a battle for tempo when possessing the ball, but also a fight where physical strength in defense will be decisive in preventing the opponent's advance. This is a task for the two loose forwards (No. 4) on Saturday afternoon. Ezebeta has improved his game and was important during lineout plays, but on Saturday he will need to participate in defensive actions. Vaai will reach his milestone 50th match, and the necessity to show physical power, especially in lineout plays, will weigh on him and his team.
Cobus Reinhart versus Kame Roigard
The outcome will depend on the quality of the ball delivery from the rucks and scrums, as well as who better executes attacks and defenses between these two halfbacks. Both are expected to maintain a high tempo for their teams and make correct decisions under pressure. Reinhart will try to improve his kicking skills after a less brilliant performance in the second match in Cape Town. He will also be vital for the Boks in attack. Roigard's distribution was high quality for his backline, allowing them to attack aggressively in the early matches.
Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu versus Ruben Lav
Backline management will be crucial for the flyhalves. Currently, Lav has achieved the most success in having players run behind him. Feinberg-Mngomezulu has not yet fully established himself in the series, giving him a good opportunity to do so in such an important match. The Boks need their talisman at number 10 to launch attacks, especially if they want to start scoring more points. They have lacked this aspect. On the other hand, Lav played a key role in leading the All Blacks' attack and intends to continue showing excellent form.