The Springboks are treating Saturday’s Third Test showdown with the All Blacks like a World Cup knockout match — and that should send a shiver of excitement through South African supporters.
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says the Boks have approached the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry clash with the same mentality that has helped them conquer the biggest stages, with an early defeat followed by a ruthless response becoming a familiar feature of their recent history.
The Boks lost their opening Test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park before bouncing back to level the series in Cape Town last weekend. Now, with the teams locked at 1–1, they head into Saturday’s “Clash in the Calabash” at Soccer City knowing victory would put them one step away from claiming the series.
“From the start, we said we’d treat this series like a World Cup knockout campaign,” Stick said.
It is a mindset that explains the continuity in the Springbok selection this week, with just one injury-enforced change to the team that beat New Zealand in Cape Town.
The All Blacks will take confidence from history, having enjoyed considerable success on the Highveld during the professional era. Stick knows they will not be intimidated by the altitude — and he also understands exactly what is at stake for New Zealand.
“If they win tomorrow, they’ll claim they’ve beaten us 2–1 in our own backyard, so we understand exactly what’s motivating them. We also want to protect what we stand for as South Africans.
“Whoever wins has a genuine shot at winning the wider series when we travel on to Baltimore for the fourth Test; whoever loses can only draw the series. Both teams will be desperate for a result.”
Stick expects the battle to be brutal, particularly at the breakdown.
“We were poor at the breakdowns in the first Test, and never lost one in the second. Still want to get better at the breakdown, because we know they’ll target it again with the players they’ve selected. If we want to create opportunities, we have to be clinical there.”
The Springboks will also look to use their traditional strengths to squeeze the All Blacks’ attacking game.
“Set-piece is one of our biggest attacking platforms; we want to go forward, we’ve never been a team that goes around the contact, so if we get scrum or lineout opportunities, we’ll look to dominate,” Stick said.
“New Zealand will want to keep the ball in play and avoid the breakdown and set-piece as much as they can — that suits their game plan, but we know what suits us.”
South Africa have followed a similar path to success before. They lost a Test in the 2019 World Cup, the 2023 World Cup, and the 2021 British and Irish Lions series, only to respond by going unbeaten and ultimately lifting the silverware.
“The changes we made after the first Test were mostly enforced; one or two were down to injuries,” Stick said.
“When it comes to continuity, the players understand that’s the plan for the series, because if you’re in this position at a World Cup, you always want your best available side out there.
“It was unlucky for some of the younger players who’d had a chance to show what they can do, but we also had a couple of senior players return from injury and go straight back into their positions.”
The All Blacks have tinkered with their lineup, although Stick believes the core of their team remains intact.
“New Zealand have made a few changes, but you probably know their best 23, and the spine of their team hasn’t changed much. They’ve got combinations that are working.”
With the series finely poised, Stick believes it is delivering everything its billing promised.
“This rivalry is living up to its name, arguably the best in the world historically, and people are getting value for their ticket money because you never know who’ll win.”
