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All Blacks switch focus to the Springboks

All Blacks switch focus to the Springboks

All BlacksAugust 19, 2024

After their 42-10 turnaround win over Argentina in the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship Test in Auckland on Saturday, the All Blacks quickly turned their thoughts to the next job: two Tests against the Springboks in South Africa.

Players have three days at home before the side flies to South Africa on Wednesday to prepare for the first Test, at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, a week on Saturday.

Three players, Patrick Tuipulotu, Luke Jacobson, and Ethan de Groot, are being assessed for injuries before the squad is announced on Wednesday. But he confirmed that captain Scott Barrett was ready to tour.

"He'll strap the pinky up and go at it. He's important. He's a big body, and that's what you need over there.

Robertson said there is an 'old school feeling' about a tour to South Africa, and after finding the desired level of execution in their win on Saturday, they reflected on the opportunity ahead of them.

"We made sure we talked about what we did well last week. There's seven debutants coming away to South Africa who haven't played against South African teams or been away, so there's a bit of excitement there."

South Africa has been innovative and involved in recent games, and they have different styles and body types for the All Blacks to deal with.

"It's exciting. You get to see enough of them in Test footy and you see how Rassie's [Erasmus] mind works, so it's pretty special. They've got a great group there, so it's going to be great for Test matches."


Erasmus wasn't afraid to get into mind games and is one of the personalities of world rugby.

"I know Rassie, I played against him. I enjoy his commentary and its different angles. Everyone loves a press conference with him.

"I'm looking forward to locking horns.

"The one Rassie and South Africa have done extremely well is they've built depth over that four-year cycle. He lost a few chess matches in there, but he blooded some great young players. That gave them the depth that was required.

"The [Springbok] World Cup squad was so hard to pick, so they left some great players out and that's where you need to get to."

Robertson said there was a mindset around what it would take to succeed, and it would be a mental and physical challenge.

There has been some variation in their game, with former All Black Tony Brown's influence coming through.

"There's a little bit of variation to get the ball in the air, a little more to play at the back door and they can test you on the edge a lot, too. They've evolved."

Not playing South African teams in Super Rugby was missed.

"It's a little bit different to playing at Lautoka or in Suncorp [Stadium]. The high veldt, the conditions, there's all those factors that come into it. You do miss it because it's the different challenges I mentioned, but it's an exciting one."

Preparing the All Blacks, and especially those who haven't played there, involved drawing on history and having leaders who knew what it was all about taking the lead.

Saturday's win over Argentina was important ahead of the trip.

"There's always pressure going into Test matches, but the efforts that created [the win] were more important for us.

"We're an effort-based team and care deeply about the duty, and the score reflected that."

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