The Springboks’ 16-33 opening Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry defeat to the All Blacks at Ellis Park has left them with plenty of questions to answer heading into Test 2 in Cape Town this weekend. Here are three of them.
Can this Bok group bail themselves out again?
It’s do-or-die time for the side many believe are the greatest Boks of all time. Unthinkably, another defeat here would already make the series unwinnable.
After the loss in Joburg, Rassie Erasmus mentioned in the press that the Boks had faced similar situations in the past, referencing having been defeated by the All Blacks in their 2019 Rugby World Cup opener and the British & Irish Lions in the first Test of 2021. The 2023 RWC pool defeat to Ireland could be added to the pile too, with the point being that this is a Bok group that has repeatedly proven they can rebound from backs-against-the-wall scenarios to go on and win silverware. Maybe they will again.
But the most frustrating part about the loss at Ellis Park is the recurring theme of the side seemingly, from the outside looking in at least, not being able to cope with the “favourites” tag. It’s not always the case that the Boks play their best footy when they’re the underdogs, but it is too often.
The loss in the opening Test has seen the New Zealanders usurp the four-time world champions as the world’s No 1-ranked team, which may oddly work in their favour on the west coast this weekend. It sounds strange to say, but it’s even stranger that South African supporters have become so accustomed to this kind of thing.
Will Rassie’s changes have the desired effect?
Rassie Erasmus has made a number of alterations to the matchday squad that went down in the first Test, with captain Siya Kolisi bracketed in if he can overcome his injury niggle in time. If not, Paul de Villiers will continue at openside.
Other than that, the most notable selection is the reinstatement of Handre Pollard at No 10 after undercooked Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s understandably off the boil performance in Johannesburg. The Ice Man’s return suggests the side may revert to a more conservative approach in the Cape, though one can never quite be sure with Erasmus.
Cobus Reinach, who saw yellow last week, takes over from injured Grant Williams at scrumhalf, while Ethan Hooker replaces Cheslin Kolbe at left wing, though the Bok half-centurion could yet feature according to the coach. Pieter-Steph du Toit will reach his 100th Test appearance when he takes to the field.
The replacements are much changed, seeing Thomas du Toit return to the matchday squad, while 39-year-old Deon “Brannas” Fourie is in line to appear for the Boks for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final. The great Lood de Jager is back at No 19 and is joined by Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Morne van den Berg and Sacha.
If Kolisi does end up playing, this would be the most experienced Bok side of all time with 1012 caps, but even without the skipper’s influence, green and gold fans will be hoping for a much-improved showing from this squad of players. They will certainly have a big job to do.
Are the All Blacks back under Dave Rennie?
If we’re including the games against the SA URC franchises on the RGR tour, Rennie’s current All Blacks record stands at played seven, won seven. In his short time at the helm, the former Wallabies boss has seemingly already instilled a genuine sense of direction and confidence in the ABs, in stark contrast to Scott Robertson, whose tenure was marked by a general sense of aimlessness at times.
The 62-year-old has given Kiwi fans plenty of reasons to be optimistic in the lead-up to Australia 2027, not solely because of pure results but also the momentum the side is gaining on all fronts. It’s still early days in the Rennie era, with plenty of questions still needing answers, especially selection-wise, but things are starting to fall into place.
Already officially back at No 1 in the world, victory in Cape Town this weekend would surely be the biggest indicator (read: warning sign) to the rest of the rugby world that the game’s most famous team has well and truly returned — even if they don’t manage to go on and clinch the Test series.
