All Blacks forwards coach Jason Ryan believes the Springboks will revert to a contestable kicking game when the teams lock horns for a “title fight” on Saturday.
The Boks put Australia to the sword in the Rugby Championship opener last week, showing a refreshing style of play in a resounding 43-12 win at Loftus Versfeld,.
The world champions were utterly dominant and seemed to embrace the occasion, playing with far more abandon than would have been expected in their first Test of 2023.
However, the Boks have named a much-changed lineup to face New Zealand in Auckland this weekend, and Ryan is wary of the threat and aerial prowess of those selected, like scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and winger Cheslin Kolbe.
Speaking this week in the build-up to the clash at Mount Smart Stadium, Ryan told reporters: “They’ve sent those guys over early for a reason. They’ll bring a bit of an edge with them coming over earlier. We’ve got to be right on.
MORE: All Blacks to shift gears for Bok duel
“They’re clear on their identity as a team of who they are around their forwards. Also, I thought they used the ball pretty well [against the Wallabies], a bit of space and got to some edges and tried different things. And they’re a good defensive side. There’s a few things we saw that are a little bit different.
“[But] they’re pretty clear on their DNA, the Boks, and you’ve got to respect them and admire them for it. They’ve got a pretty clear strategy, put the ball in the air, it will be a hell of a contest.”
The Kiwis returned home on Monday from a bonus-point victory over Argentina, yet as comfortable as their win was in Mendoza, Ryan reckons there was still plenty to be done by the men in black.
He added: “We’re chipping away. We’ve still got a lot of work to do. We made some progress against a tough team in a tough place to play. It was good to put some things in place that we’ve been working on in the last couple of weeks.
“Our scrum stood up, and we did have some top quality ball. It’s a different game over there with the sun on your back. Mount Smart Stadium is a little bit wet on a cold, dewy night… she’s going to be a title fight. It’s a lot different contest this week.”
Photo: EPA/Scott Radford-Chisholm/BackpagePix
