Head coach Rassie Erasmus kept his cards close to his chest when quizzed about the style of play the Springboks may adopt in their upcoming Test series against the All Blacks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.
Much has been made of how the New Zealanders went about their business in the opening leg of the Nations Championship against France, Italy and Ireland. The All Blacks played an up-tempo, ball-in-hand game, leading the tournament stats in carries and metres made.
The Springboks, by contrast, kicked more than any other team in their victories over England, Scotland and Wales, relying heavily on contestable kicks as a lethal attacking weapon. Yet, despite the narrative surrounding their respective styles, it was South Africa who emerged from the opening block having scored more points and more tries than their arch-rivals.
While New Zealand have selected several formidable ball-carriers for their trip to South Africa, they are unlikely to stray from their high-tempo philosophy.
Addressing the media in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Erasmus reflected on New Zealand’s squad selection, but remained characteristically cryptic when asked how the Boks plan to counter it.
“If we play Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu], Handré [Pollard] or Manie [Libbok] at flyhalf, we have to decide whether we play a kicking game or a running game,” Erasmus said.
“It depends on what team we pick and how the All Blacks go in the franchise matches. We haven’t done a lot of analysing when it comes to the All Blacks, that is why the squad for the greatest rivalry series will only be announced after the Argentina match.”
Beyond the four-Test series, the tour features historic midweek fixtures where the All Blacks will face South Africa’s United Rugby Championship franchises — the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions. For Erasmus, these provincial clashes evoke cherished personal memories and offer a monumental stage for local players.
“The franchise matches are pretty special,” Erasmus said. “I remember playing for the Cheetahs in a midweek game against the British and Irish Lions and also playing my first Test for the Springboks against them. That Free State jersey has been framed.
“It’s a massive privilege to play the All Blacks. To face the haka for those players is going to be an honour.”
Crucially, Erasmus revealed that the door remains wide open for domestic standouts to force their way into the national setup through these midweek encounters.
“There are a few players we have released to provinces who can still play their way into the squad with top performances against the All Blacks for their franchises,” Erasmus added.
