South Africa v New Zealand - Teams and Prediction

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND FOUR: The Springboks will be out to avoid a repeat of what happened during their July series against Ireland when face the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday.

The All Blacks will enter that match desperate for a win to keep their Rugby Championship title hopes alive after they suffered a 27-31 defeat at Ellis Park last weekend.

It was their second defeat in the tournament after losing the first of two home matches against Argentina.

Meanwhile, the Springboks will take a giant step towards winning the championship if they can secure a fourth successive win.

However, it wasn’t too long ago when Ireland showed the world that the world champions can be beaten on their own turf.

After suffering a 20-27 defeat in Pretoria in early July, the Irish bounced back to upset the Boks 25-24 in Durban a week later.

It is something the All Blacks can look at for motivation and Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus said his team is bracing themselves for a backlash.

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“They are a magnificent team. I think they were very unlucky [last weekend],” said Erasmus.

“They weren’t on a high after that loss to Argentina, but then the next game they thrashed them.”

He added: “The moment you think you have them; you don’t have them.

“Their scrums are great. They certainly matched us at the set phases very well and I thought the breakdown was a tight contest.”

“They are a very difficult team to coach against and to play against.

“Their greatness will always be around them because they’ve got really special players and coaches.

The All Blacks have tweaked their team for Saturday’s match with a new-look back three in the form of Mark Tele’a and Sevu Reece on the wings and Will Jordan at fullback

“Sevu [Reece] is just very dangerous. Tele’a is physical, dangerous and his legs are pumping all the time,” said Erasmus.

“We worked hard on not just stopping individuals but for the guys to know individuals, because if you think you can just tackle them then they will get away.”

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All Black head coach Scott Robertson made it clear he wants his team to finish stronger this week after they threw away a 10-point lead in the final 12 minutes last weekend.

“We just gave them too many opportunities inside our 22,” he said.

“There are fine margins in Test footy, so we looked at our efforts and focussed on areas where we could be better and one of them is finishing matches.”

He added: “They are going to be passionate and physical like they are every week and they have the depth in their squad.

“When you are world No.1 you always turn up.

“We expect everything from them with the bit of creativity that they’ve got in their group as well.

“It will be another helluva Test match.”

Am Back 🔥#Rugby365 #Springboks pic.twitter.com/C6EqteoqHT

— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) September 5, 2024

Players to watch

For South Africa: Experienced fullback Willie le Roux and flyhalf Handre Pollard return to the team announced by Rassie Erasmus. Le Roux’s selection ahead of Aphelele Fassi and Pollard’s return in place of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu brings back two members of the team that beat the All Blacks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final in Paris. Canan Moodie was selected at right wing with Cheslin Kolbe moving from right wing to Arendse’s position at left wing. Lock Eben Etzebeth returns to the starting team to win his 126th cap – one behind South African record-holder Victor Matfield – with Pieter-Steph du Toit moving from lock to flank in place of Ben-Jason Dixon.

For New Zealand: All Black head coach Scott Robertson reacted to last weekend’s defeat in Johannesburg by bringing in Cortez Ratima for TJ Perenara at scrumhalf and moving Will Jordan to fullback in place of Beauden Barrett for the second match against the Springboks in Cape Town. Barnstorming loose forward Wallace Sititi, 21, will make his first start to replace Ethan Blackadder, who has a hamstring injury. Wings Mark Tele’a and Sevu Reece replace Jordan and Caleb Clarke, who has a back injury, respectively.

Prediction

@rugby365com: South Africa by two points.

Teams:

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Kwagga Smith, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Lukhanyo Am.

New Zealand: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Te’lea, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyral Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Anton Leinert-Brown, 23 Beauden Barrett.

Date: Saturday, September 7
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT; 03.00 NZST Sunday, September 8)
Expected weather: it will be clear with a strong breeze and a high of 17°C.
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)

Additional source: AFP