Coach Dave Rennie says the Springboks will bring an intensity and quality several times higher than what the All Blacks have experienced on tour but there will be a sense among the visitors that they are as well prepared as they can be for the first Test.
The positivity in the camp will be in spite of the constant trickle of arrivals and departures due to injury.
The latest announcement concerned prop Ollie Norris, who is returning home with a knee cartilage problem, and halfback Cortez Ratima, whose knee injury suffered against the Bulls yesterday will continue to be assessed.
Norris’ departure follows that of hooker George Bell, centre Billy Proctor and wing Caleb Clarke.
Ratima’s issue, on top of Cam Roigard’s calf problem, complicates matters at halfback, with Noah Hotham brought in as cover.
“What we know is that the intensity level and quality that we’re going to come up against next week is three-, four-, five-fold,” Rennie said. “But we’ve played reasonably well on tour and we know we need to up the ante.”
It is clear Rennie saw yesterday’s win over the Bulls at 1350m above sea level in Pretoria, which is just over 50km from Johannesburg, as another importance piece of the preparation puzzle for the Test at Ellis Park on Sunday.
“We’ve had a game at altitude and will be better for it,” he said.
The All Blacks showed immense improvement at the set piece and with their discipline after both were exposed against the Stormers in Cape Town in game one.
Rennie’s main gripe at Loftus Versfeld afterwards was about not finishing attacking opportunities. The All Blacks led the Bulls 11-1 in terms of line breaks and Rennie would have liked more of those converted beyond the eight tries his side scored.
The All Blacks showed better decision-making and handling skills against the Sharks in Durban despite the waterlogged pitch.
Attack coach Mike Blair highlighted the same point in an interview early this morning and said his players would continue to work on those aspects but few teams place as much importance on those as the All Blacks and if, anything, it highlighted the difference between playing and practising in terms of putting micro skills to the test.
And here is where the All Blacks may have a minor advantage over the world champions.
The Springboks will be big favourites to win at Ellis Park on Sunday morning, but they have not played since their 17-10 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires on August 9, a match in which inspirational skipper Siya Kolisi sprained a hamstring.
Since then, the Boks have been on a 10-hour flight home and would have gradually built back up to Test mode.
It must be noted that Damian McKenzie is the other All Black carrying an injury issue – in his case an ankle problem – but Beauden Barrett’s performance at fullback yesterday will be cause for comfort, as will the form of outside backs Josh Moorby and Leroy Carter, both of whom scored two tries against the Bulls.
The scrummaging power of props Xavier Numia and Tyrel Lomax was also notable, and, with loose forwards Tupou Vaa’i, Anton Segner, Peter Lakai and Luke Jacobson all competing hard for two spots – returning skipper Ardie Savea will start at either No.8 or openside flanker – the selectors have some tough decisions to make this week.
“The Boks will come a lot harder at us defensively,” Rennie said.
True, but the All Blacks have yet to put their strongest combination on the field and whoever the selectors pick will be a handful for the Boks on both sides of the ball.
Rennie is expecting the Boks to ask the All Blacks some searching questions on Sunday but will be confident his men have the ability to ask a few themselves.
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