Christchurch - The last time the Springboks won a Test against the All Blacks in New Zealand was eight games, and seven years, ago - a 32-29 win in Hamilton.
So, here’s a 10-point plan for Allister Coetzee’s men to shock the rugby world on Saturday...
Jantjies must come good
The Bok flyhalf has yet to find his feet on the Test stage and the form he showed in Super Rugby is a distant memory. He has the all-round game to lead any team’s attack but in this, his biggest challenge, he must stand tall and deliver.
Elton Jantjies must be the playmaker, the director, the man who his teammates look to for inspiration and hope. He must attack the gain line with authority and show he is the right man for the No 10 jersey.
This is the match that will determine his Bok future - it’s up to him whether Coetzee sticks with him or not.
Seniors must deliver
There are other players, too, who Coetzee has put his faith in, those who’ve been around the block but have yet to fully deliver, who must stand tall at the AMI Stadium.
Captain Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira, Francois Louw, Warren Whiteley, Juan de Jongh and Bryan Habana have all lead teams and are considered senior campaigners who can inspire those around them. They all need to make a step up and show they’re worthy of selection.
Control set-pieces
Not much has gone well for the Boks this year, but they’ve been pretty impressive in the scrums and lineouts and will hopefully continue that good work against the best team in the world.
New tighthead prop Vincent Koch must now show he is good enough to anchor the scrum at Test level, while Pieter-Steph du Toit has the task of calling the lineout.
Tackle powerfully
The Boks looked to be all at sea against the Wallabies last Saturday and also missed several tackles against Argentina. Coetzee’s backline have seemed especially vulnerable when the opposition get quick turnover ball.
Oupa Mohoje has tackled strongly in recent games, as has Warren Whiteley, but it is the backs who must put in some big hits, starting with centres De Jongh and Jesse Kriel. The South Africans must make their presence felt.
Hang on to the ball
Too many opportunities were lost in Brisbane because the Boks gave away possession in contact and at international level, “dropping the ball” is simply inexcusable.
If they are to have any chance of success in the cold spring air of Christchurch, the Boks have to place a premium on ball retention and not gifting it to the All Blacks, who love to counter-attack.
Be disciplined
Eben Etzebeth was yellow-carded last week and Mohoje nearly copped a suspension for dangerous tackling against Argentina - indiscretions that the Boks will not get away with this weekend.
And they had better not go down to 14, or 13, men at any stage as an advantage in numbers will just about end all hopes of a Bok win. The All Blacks will punish any mistakes or misdemeanours so Coetzee must ensure his team stay on the straight and narrow.
Kick with purpose
Too many up-and-unders landed comfortably in the hands of the Wallaby backs last week, while some of the Bok touch-finders also failed to find their target. Tomorrow, Faf de Klerk, Jantjies and Johan Goosen will have to be spot on.
Kicking downfield, like the Boks did late on in Brisbane, will serve no purpose against the best counter-attacking team in the game.
Impact off bench
Coetzee has loaded his bench with heavy-hitters Malcolm Marx and Willem Alberts, and never-give-up terriers Franco Mostert and Jaco Kriel, so the Boks should have fuel in the tank to go the distance.
But these men, and the two substitute props as well as Morne Steyn and Damian de Allende, must make the necessary impact. If they don’t, then it’s tickets for the visitors.
Barrett must flop
Of course, if the Boks are to pull off a rare and unexpected win then Kiwi flyhalf Beauden Barrett, wing Julian Savea and fullback Ben Smith must have their worst games until now.
In fact, the whole All Black team would have to flop badly for the Boks to be in with a shout. It’s happened before, and it’s something the Bok players must drive home in the lead-up to the opening whistle.
Get the referee’s backing
Rookie Angus Gardner knows the majority of the players from Super Rugby, but this will be his biggest and most high-profile game as a Test referee, so he’ll be feeling the heat.
If the Boks can get his backing early on with some powerful scrums and strong driving mauls, then the hosts may start asking themselves questions. Hopefully Gardner’s consistent and isn’t overawed by the occasion.
TEAMS:
New Zealand:15 Ben Smith, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody; Bench: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Matt Todd, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown
SA:15 Johan Goosen, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira. Bench: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Jaco Kriel, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Damian de Allende.
Kickoff: 9.35am (SA time)
The Star