The smoldering rivalry between rugby titans, the All Blacks and Springboks, is set to ignite once more this Saturday at Sky Stadium in Wellington. Last week's clash at Eden Park saw the All Blacks clinch a 24-17 victory, marking a significant turnaround after a string of losses to the Springboks in previous encounters. With the Rugby Championship title in sight, both teams are gearing up for a monumental showdown.
Despite the win, All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson is not resting on his laurels. He has slightly tweaked his lineup, notably shifting Will Jordan from full-back to right wing. "You're up here and you've got to get back up there," Robertson emphasized, highlighting the need for continuous top-level performance. "What's it going to take internally for us? What are those drivers that get you there? And you've got to be there on Saturday," he added, reflecting on the emotional and strategic preparation required for back-to-back high-stakes games.
"The big thing for us is the acknowledgement of it. You're up here and you've got to get back up there,"
On the other side, Rassie Erasmus, the mastermind behind South Africa's recent World Cup victories, has made significant changes to his squad, notably reintroducing powerhouse number eight Jasper Wiese. This adjustment shifts Siya Kolisi back to flanker. The Springboks are desperate to redeem themselves and keep their championship hopes alive.
The game is expected to be won in the trenches, with both teams boasting formidable forward packs. The All Blacks have bolstered their scrum by starting Tyrel Lomax at tighthead prop, aiming to dominate the set-pieces. Lineouts will be another critical battleground, especially for the Springboks' Malcolm Marx, who struggled in last week's game.
The backline will also be a spectacle, featuring New Zealand's dual playmakers Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie, while the Springboks' young fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will look to make his mark alongside seasoned campaigners like Cheslin Kolbe and Damian Willemse.
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The smoldering rivalry between rugby titans, the All Blacks and Springboks, is set to ignite once more this Saturday at Sky Stadium in Wellington. Last week's clash at Eden Park saw the All Blacks clinch a 24-17 victory, marking a significant turnaround after a string of losses to the Springboks in previous encounters. With the Rugby Championship title in sight, both teams are gearing up for a monumental showdown.
Despite the win, All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson is not resting on his laurels. He has slightly tweaked his lineup, notably shifting Will Jordan from full-back to right wing. "You're up here and you've got to get back up there," Robertson emphasized, highlighting the need for continuous top-level performance. "What's it going to take internally for us? What are those drivers that get you there? And you've got to be there on Saturday," he added, reflecting on the emotional and strategic preparation required for back-to-back high-stakes games.
"The big thing for us is the acknowledgement of it. You're up here and you've got to get back up there,"
On the other side, Rassie Erasmus, the mastermind behind South Africa's recent World Cup victories, has made significant changes to his squad, notably reintroducing powerhouse number eight Jasper Wiese. This adjustment shifts Siya Kolisi back to flanker. The Springboks are desperate to redeem themselves and keep their championship hopes alive.
The game is expected to be won in the trenches, with both teams boasting formidable forward packs. The All Blacks have bolstered their scrum by starting Tyrel Lomax at tighthead prop, aiming to dominate the set-pieces. Lineouts will be another critical battleground, especially for the Springboks' Malcolm Marx, who struggled in last week's game.
The backline will also be a spectacle, featuring New Zealand's dual playmakers Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie, while the Springboks' young fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will look to make his mark alongside seasoned campaigners like Cheslin Kolbe and Damian Willemse.
Teams:
All Blacks: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ethan de Groot. Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Ruben Love.
Springboks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mng