Adnaan Mohamed
The first Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series has already produced its opening skirmish.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has dismissed suggestions that South Africa deliberately slows the game at set pieces, insisting his team will stick to its systems when the All Blacks arrive at 10bet Ellis Park on Saturday.
“There are always three truths: New Zealand’s truth, the truth people believe, and our truth,” Erasmus said.
The comments come as the pre-Test needle begins to prick. New Zealand has promoted a high-intensity, multi-phase style, with suggestions that the Springboks could seek to disrupt that rhythm.
Erasmus is having none of it.
“In our last two games against New Zealand in Auckland and Wellington, people can go and look at those games and ask were we slowing those down. They beat us in Auckland, and we got a good result in Wellington.”
For Erasmus, Test rugby is not about satisfying outside narratives but more about surviving the furnace when pressure reaches boiling point.
“We believe there’s a certain way to win big games and we think it will be a grind.”
That grind could become the defining feature of Saturday’s opening act.
“When you’re under pressure and you attack, it’s tough to maintain cohesion,” Erasmus said. “We will try to find a balance when games are really tight, but we have a system to fall back on that protects the players.”
Tony Brown’s influence has also helped shape the Boks’ attacking approach.
“Since Tony Brown, former All Black flyhalf and current Springbok assistant coach, has been with us, we feel as though we’ve been on the right track.”
“The law is very clear. From the moment the referee puts his foot down to mark the spot, not from the whistle, there is 30 seconds to form a lineout or scrum.”
Peyper said teams could manage the moments before the mark is made within the laws, while opponents who are ready to play can apply pressure.
“There’s nothing in the law that says you can’t idle before the mark is given.”
He also pointed out that teams can disrupt tempo through repeated infringements at breakdowns and mauls.
The whistle, in other words, could become a metronome for a Test where every second matters.
Peyper has full confidence in the officials appointed for the four-Test series, particularly England’s Matthew Carley, who will referee Saturday’s opener.
“You’re going to have a firm referee. Someone who deals decisively at the breakdown and is very strong on anything negative or cynical. And he does not get influenced by the home crowd.”
That could be music to the ears of both coaching boxes.
Erasmus expects the All Blacks to bring a blue-chip attacking blueprint to Johannesburg.
“You can see it on social media. They’re advocating a high intensity, running game, with multi-phase attacks. And when you analyse it, it definitely shows in the stats.”
Dave Rennie, who Erasmus previously faced during his Munster days, adds another tactical layer to the contest.
“The big battle is going to be when they have the ball, they’ll have total control of what they do with it, and when we have the ball, we’ll have total control of what we do with it.”
The biggest concern for Erasmus is the All Blacks’ breakdown work.
“What concerns us most is how physical and brutal they are at the breakdown. They take the ball through so many phases and then they put in a well-timed grubber kick. Their attacking kicks are as dangerous as when they have ball-in-hand.”
Away from the tactical chessboard, Erasmus admitted the Springboks are embracing the occasion.
“We all appreciate and respect what this series means,” he said.
“I’d love it if the people at Ellis Park create the same atmosphere as that which the people did in Cape Town. The haka was heard 100%, which makes it something special.”
The Springbok coach also knows the All Blacks remain capable of delivering a sting.
“We know how good the All Blacks are. Since 2018, when they were leading the world, we’ve always wondered when they’re going to beat us again, and they will beat us again in future, but hopefully not this weekend.”
Erasmus will name his team on Thursday, with captain Siya Kolisi and prop Ox Nche the only injury concerns.
“The only two doubtful players are Siya and Ox, who are coming along well,” he said. “I wouldn’t say either is confirmed out, but if they get through training today it could go either way. Apart from those two, everybody else is available.”
The All Blacks are also expected to unveil a few tactical surprises.
“They’ll have plans they didn’t show in the Nations Championship, little things, such as lineout variations, maybe a front peel or back peel move, and there are things that have caught us out before.”
The stage is set.
The talking has started.
Now Ellis Park gets the final word.
South Africa face New Zealand at 17h10 on Saturday, with the match live on SuperSport.