Jasper Wiese spoke about the tense atmosphere between the Springboks and All Blacks on the flight to the USA

The All Blacks plan to utilize the altitude factor during the match against the Springboks in the third test of the greatest rugby rivalry, which will take place at the FNB stadium in Soweto on Saturday.

The Greatest Rugby Rivalry

The All Blacks are confident in their ability to adapt to Johannesburg's altitude, having spent half of this week preparing during the second test in Cape Town. Unlike other world rugby teams that would fly out on Sunday after the second match in Cape Town to acclimatize to the thin air in Soweto (the match is scheduled for 5:10 PM).

The New Zealanders, who defeated the Springboks in the first match at Ellis Park, believe they are accustomed to high-altitude conditions. This is why head coach Dave Rennie allowed his players to spend more time in Cape Town, where they had access to the beach and sufficient support.

This gave them extra comfort before flying to Johannesburg for the final matches based in South Africa. Since the series is tied 1-1, a tense match is expected as both teams strive to take the lead before the final test in Baltimore, USA, next week.

An additional advantage for the All Blacks is the statistics: in the last ten encounters at altitude, they have won eight times against the Springboks. Rennie only learned about this statistic on Thursday.

The coach stated that the team will embrace the altitude. He noted: 'I think we need to accept it. We are not inclined to talk much about it. We know it will be tough, but it will be tough for both teams. Nevertheless, we will rely on our physical fitness and mindset to continue working at altitude. We definitely do not see it as a negative game factor here.'

This is a clear signal that the All Blacks intend to play the ball-carrying game against the Boks, even if it might end in failure. However, South Africa will be under pressure after losing the first test at Ellis Park. The New Zealanders lead the High Altitude matches in the greatest rugby rivalry with a score of 1-0. They remain undefeated at the FNB stadium and intend to continue dominating the world champions.

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.'

Loosehead All Blacks George Bower stated readiness for another intense clash against the Springboks on Saturday in Soweto. He challenged the South African team ahead of the third match in the greatest rivalry series in rugby, insisting that New Zealand is ready to meet the world champions in a tough fight.

The scrum has been a topic of discussion throughout the series after the All Blacks struggled under pressure at Ellis Park stadium in the first match. Then the Boks again took the upper hand in the scrum moments during their 33-26 victory in Cape Town last week.

With the current score at 1-1, Bower believes that the All Blacks have no reason to avoid a heavy confrontation when the teams meet at the FNB stadium in Soweto (match starts at 17:00). Although there is verbal sparring surrounding the scrum, Bower expresses only anticipation for the opportunity to fight against one of the best scrums in the world.

Since returning to the All Blacks, he has become a pillar of the team, providing stability in the scrums and posing a serious challenge to the Bok tightheads during the tour. Bower emphasized his desire to participate in the scrum, stating on Thursday: 'Oh, I love the scrum. I want to scrum.'

He noted that despite much talk from both sides, it all comes down to the first scrum. 'We'll see who talks,' he added. He acknowledged that South Africa prides itself on its scrum and uses it as an opportunity to earn penalties and advance. However, he also stated that the All Blacks' mentality after the first match is that they are at the same high level.

Bower expressed his intention to challenge them, noting that they know about the approaching opponents, but they are also ready themselves. 'I want to scrum, and I know my five back players want to scrum too. As a team, we must focus on our connection and density, our binding and our setup, and hopefully, this will neutralize what the South Africans bring this weekend.'