All Blacks admit they no longer trust Rassie Erasmus ahead of Springbok clash
Pinch of salt.
The All Blacks have admitted they are taking Rassie Erasmus’ Springbok team announcements “with a pinch of salt” following his series of late changes in Cape Town.
Erasmus named his side for Saturday’s crucial third Test at FNB Stadium on Monday, with Cheslin Kolbe moving to fullback in place of the injured Damian Willemse and Kurt-Lee Arendse returning on the wing.
However, New Zealand assistant coach Mike Blair says the All Blacks will not spend too much time analysing the specific individuals named by Erasmus, knowing the Springbok coach could make further changes before kick-off.
“You take notice of it, but you take it with a pinch of salt as well,” Blair said at an All Blacks press conference in Newlands on Monday.
“Listening to what he said after the second Test about how he changed the team around depending on the weather, it shows that they’ve got the capability of doing that.”
Blair explained that New Zealand will instead focus on preparing for the Springboks’ overall approach rather than attempting to predict exactly which players will take the field.
“We’re not going to spend huge amounts of time planning for a certain individual in a certain position when we’re pretty aware that that can change right up until kick-off.
“We understand the South African DNA in terms of their game, how they defend. A lot of the individuals coming to that will fit within that system, so we prepare for the team’s ethos as opposed to the individuals.”
Blair’s comments follow a remarkable build-up to the second Test in Cape Town, when Erasmus made several alterations to his original Springbok selection.
The most dramatic came shortly before kick-off when the entire starting front row was changed. Gerhard Steenekamp, Deon Fourie and Thomas du Toit were promoted from the bench, with Ox Nché, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw moving in the opposite direction.
Erasmus subsequently explained that the decision had been influenced by the weather forecast.
And the Springbok coach has already left the door open for another late reshuffle this weekend, with rain a possibility in Johannesburg.
The All Blacks, therefore, appear more interested in preparing for South Africa’s overall game plan than attempting to predict exactly which players will take the field.
Saturday’s third Test promises to be pivotal after the opening two encounters left Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry level at 1-1. New Zealand won the opener 33-16 at Ellis Park before South Africa responded with a 33-26 victory in Cape Town.
The FNB Stadium encounter will be the final Test on South African soil before the two teams travel to Baltimore for the fourth and final match of the series.
