All Blacks v Springboks
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 6 September
Eden Park, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has conceded that they can't just rely on penalty goals to beat the All Blacks on Saturday night at Eden Park. While all the talk around the match has been about how it will be a kick-heavy encounter, Erasmus brought up a telling statistic of just what it takes to overcome an All Black side in the modern era.
"History has shown you must score 28 points against New Zealand … if you want to beat them," said Erasmus at the team naming press conference.
"So you have to score tries. We have plans … we have to score tries and get to plus 25 points if we want to win the game."
The most important match the sides have played recently, the 2023 World Cup final, was a low scoring match that ended 12-11 to the Springboks. However, a quick look at the history of results shows that match was very much an outlier, with the Springboks' last win in New Zealand being a thrilling 36-34 result that featured 11 tries.
"People say you must go back to the way you play, for us we feel like we have to do both," said Erasmus about the ongoing discussion of teams' so-called 'DNA'.
"I think New Zealand's natural way is making it loose, making it fast and that's why we have a 5/3 split (on the bench) and young Ethan (Hooker) and Sacha (Feinburg-Mngonozulu) on the bench. So I don't really know if the game will open up, always when it's a must-win it tends to get a bit more brutal and a bit more physical."
Erasmus hinted that if the game does turn into a shootout, it would be because the All Blacks would've initiated it.
"Once they open you up, you struggle to contain them. So I guess that's what they'll try and do, and we'll try and make it a squeeze."
South African Captain Siya Kolisi speaks with Mark Tele’a of New Zealand. Photo: Catherine Kotze / www.photosport.nz
The two-time World Cup winning coach also clarified his captaincy situation, which will see Jesse Kriel lead the side despite Siya Kolisi starting at number eight. Erasmus revealed that Jean-Luc du Preez was originally named to start when the side was internally announced on Monday, but succumbed to a knee complaint in training, so Kolisi was passed fit to play.
Since Kriel had already been appointed captain, it was decided to stick with that arrangement.
"Jean-Luc has been so unlucky … he was picked in the team and Siya was bracketed."
However, it now means that Kolisi will face off against his great friend and rival Ardie Savea in Savea's 100th test match.
"There's the silver lining there, it's a massive game for Ardie and we respect him and congratulate him. Siya is proud of him, knowing him as a friend."
Team lists
All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Fabian Holland, 20. Du'Plessis Kirifi, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. Quinn Tupaea, 23. Damian McKenzie
Springboks: 1. Ox Nche, 2. Malcolm Marx, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Ruan Nortje, 6. Marco van Staden, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8. Siya Kolisi, 9. Grant Williams, 10. Handre Pollard, 11. Canan Moodie, 12. Damian de Allende, 13. Jesse Kriel (c), 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 15. Willie le Roux
Bench: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Boan Venter, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Cobus Reinach, 22. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23. Ethan Hooker
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