All Blacks v Springboks
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 13 September
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Analysis - This week has thrown up a bit of a curve ball for Scott Robertson, with Rassie Erasmus pulling the trigger on his Springbok team naming so early the All Blacks didn't even know about it.
The one good thing, at least from an All Black staff point of view, is that it's meant all the chat so far this week has been about the wholesale changes Erasmus has made. Cheslin Kolbe is the only man playing in the same jersey number in the Bok backline, while Canan Moodie is the only other surviving starter. Erasmus stands as probably the only coach right now that can swing an axe so hard and not get accused of the team being in crisis, instead calmly explaining to the media that it's a plan for the next World Cup.
But now the attention turns to Robertson and what he'll do tomorrow when the All Blacks side once again has to deal with attrition issues.
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson and South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Let's start off with an easy one. Codie Taylor is out, that was more or less confirmed before Saturday night's match had concluded, so that means Samisoni Taukei'aho will start with Brodie McAlister backing him up. That pairing has already started and finished a test together, in Hamilton against France, with McAlister scoring a crucial late try.
However, it's likely both will be getting plenty of reps throwing into the lineout this week. The Springboks disrupted the All Blacks in the set piece, which is to be expected given it's such a key part of their game, but both Taukei'aho and McAlister's wobbles will turn into seismic shocks if they can't get it right at Sky Stadium.
The scrum got embarrassed in the late stages of the game, which presents an interesting situation for Robertson. Tamaiti Williams and Tyrel Lomax should be starting these tests, but they were the ones that got munched and gave away a tighthead the Springboks scored off. So maybe one of them swaps out for Ethan de Groot or Fletcher Newell, but it's probably more due to insurance rather than form.
Tamaiti Williams Photo: ActionPress
Noah Hotham is back from injury and will play, and by Robertson's original selection logic he should be starting. However, Finlay Christie proved to be the right man for the job in the first test, so it's likely he'll be once again sent out with a clear plan to boot the ball high and often. That's unlucky for Kyle Preston, who was in line to have a run in his hometown.
The real intrigue is out wide. Emoni Narawa is out, Caleb Clarke is back, so that suggests a straight swap given how effective Clarke was against the Springboks last year. But it's not that straightforward, as Leicester Fainga'anuku was fast tracked into the All Blacks for a reason, one that has now presented itself.
Robertson also has the option to simply leave his back three to one that played all but six minutes of the first test.
Will Jordan scores against the Springboks. Photo: John Cowpland / action press
Narawa leaving the field brought Damian McKenzie on, pushed Will Jordan to the wing and Rieko Ioane stayed put on the other. The temptation must be there to simply keep that combination going, especially given how safe McKenzie was under the high ball in his 22.
Then there's Leroy Carter, who has now been in the squad since the start of the season and would not look out of place at all on the end of an All Black backline.
Of course, there's the fact that Erasmus is under no obligation to actually play the team he's named. The common consensus is that there will be changes to the Springboks, even as late as the day of the game itself, so watch this space.
Robertson names his All Black side at midday Thursday.
Springbok team to face the All Blacks
1. Ox Nche, 2. Malcolm Marx, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. Lood de Jager, 5. Ruan Nortje, 6. Siya Kolisi, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8. Jasper Wiese, 9. Cobus Reinach, 10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11. Ethan Hooker, 12. Damian Willemse, 13. Canan Moodie, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 15. Aphelele Fassi
Bench: 16. Marnus van der Merwe, 17. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. RG Snyman, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Grant Williams, 22. Manie Libbok, 23. Andre Esterhuizen
