Boks will face 'relentless' NZ pressure
New Zealand are past masters of the 'subdue and penetrate' tactics – especially with their ability to choke the life out of opposition and then put them away in the last quarter.
South Africa will face the same "relentless" pressure when they host the world's top-ranked team in a crucial Rugby Championship outing in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Veteran All Black No.8 Kieran Read said that experience in big games like these does play a big role.
That is why the Kiwis will be fancied in a crucial encounter between the two greatest rivals in the game.
"If we can have relentless pressure on them, we will have a good chance," Read told a media briefing at the team's Johannesburg base.
"Their defence looked really good [against Australia] last week," he said of the Springboks.
"If we can just keep the pressure on them, hold the ball for a number of phases, then we can hopefully create some opportunities.
"They are a very well-drilled side, so we will have to be very patient we will have to take our opportunities when they arrive."
He added that good starts are always crucial in big games.
"You don't want to be chasing your tail too much against good defensive sides."
Read said that while the Boks have some exciting backs and will be looking to use them, he still feels South Africa's forwards will play a key role.
"They will come at us up front," the All Black No.8 said.
"They have a pretty strong scrum and line-out, so thy will come at us there.
"They will probably also look to counter-attack.
"Last year their boys out back played really well and made a lot of breaks, so I'm sure they will look to continue that."
The key for the All Blacks is coping with the expected "hostility" they will face and the conditions they will experience at Ellis Park.
"It is always a great game [at Ellis Park] and playing over here is a big test for us."
He added that they will have to take another step up from their big win over Argentina last week.
"It is a different Test, especially coming over here to South Africa.
"We know the challenge hey present and they will be hurting after last week [a loss to the Wallabies].
"We have to keep on improving and we can't rest on where we are right now. We want to go out and win this Test match, because it is important, but our performance has to lift.
"It is going to be a tough Test match – we are the top two teams in the world rankings, so we have to earn our right to say we are sill up there [at No.1]."
By Jan de Koning in Johannesburg
@King365ed
@rugby365com
