Five years ago New Zealand tore up their playbook and changed their approach, initially improvements came from a redesign of what was required from the All Blacks back three, through to hardening the team’s resilience under pressure.
One of the more recent developments has seen a dramatic overhaul of their kicking stratagem, and now the World Champions are quite remarkably one of the most prominent teams in the world when it comes to putting the boot to ball in general play.
Yet they add the brush strokes on attack which results in a level of finishing that appears beyond any other team, even if this match promises a harsh examination.
South African coach Heyneke Meyer even lamented this his own nation, once the aerial overlords of world rugby, were second best when it came to New Zealand’s kicking game.
Some would suggest that the likes of Sam
Whitelock has even enabled the All Blacks
to surpass their great rivals when it comes
to the set piece battle in the air, even if
Victor Matfield will back his flight into the
cavernous environs of Ellis Park to rule once
more.
The hosts are evolving, the persistent
selection of Handre Pollard is yielding a colossally changed statistical profile for the
Springboks - they are eating up metres and focusing on playing ball in hand almost
obsessively.
It is slightly satirical that the South Africans are drifting towards the type of game that the All Blacks have in the past been exposed for.
Gone are the days where New Zealand
teams are addicted to running the ball from anywhere, the side now prides itself on their
tactical adaptability, while their kicking game has transformed with the deafening
boot of Israel Dagg, the intelligence of Aaron Smith’s boxes, while the grubber has
become a key part of the All Blacks offensive batteries.
The All Blacks have hinted at being able to play with more freedom with The Investec Rugby Championship decided, but one cannot forget the circumstances the Springboks had to operate in this time last year.
With the title still up for grabs in the corresponding fixture, the South Africans played with an urgency that did not suit them.
Yet it did, which hints at a formidable Springboks challenge, with many rating the 2013 Test at Ellis Park as a classic.
As always.
Even then in 2013, that gorgeous double from Habana and scores from Willie le Roux and Jean de Villiers – who plays his 50th Test in the tournament, the third player after McCaw and Mealamu to bring up the milestone - verified the evolution of the attacking game from Meyer’s troops.
They have continued this vein in 2014, scoring 27 tries in eight Tests.
The All Blacks have scored 24 over this same period, the last time New Zealand trailed the international try scoring charts was in 2009 (although this was compared to the Wallabies, not the Springboks).
Still, this is deceiving as New Zealand, notwithstanding their clinical offence as one of the better transitional teams on the counter, conceivably don’t rely on attack as much as they do defence, kick pressure, fitness and what is akin to a constant repudiation when it comes to losing.
Even the 12-12 result in Sydney resulted in a dire reaction, with captain McCaw suggesting it was the wakeup call his team needed – an incredibly stringent reflection on a draw.
This is an area where the Springboks have pulled no punches, declaring that five straight losses is unacceptable if they desire for the world’s number one spot.
But their brutal three try finish in 11 minutes against the Wallabies showed how the conditioning of the hosts has grown.
The numero uno rank is a position the All Blacks have held since late 2009, which they regained it courtesy of the Springboks losing to France 20-13 in Toulouse.
The absence of a trophy to hoist – New Zealand have lifted the Freedom Cup and The Investec Rugby Championship Cup already – is irrelevant as the top two nations in the world always have plenty at stake.
The psychological impact of a sixth straight win for the All Blacks could be gripping, it would equal the South African’s run between 1937 and 1949, the second longest run of success between the two realms.
The greatest streak remains New Zealand’s run from 2001 to 2004, seven straight Test conquests.
Whatever the result, the All Blacks position at the top of the International Rugby Board will not be under threat, however Steve Hansen’s troops have other incentives.
A win at one of the great citadels of South African rugby will be their 23rd Test match without defeat - matching the feats of the 1987 Webb Ellis winners - while the shadow of Richie McCaw, who surpasses Sir Colin Mead with 134 matches for the All Blacks, will drive a side seeking a noteworthy clean sweep in The Investec Rugby Championship for the third straight year.
New Zealand will also be eyeing their 18th consecutive win in the tournament, but the Springboks will be confident of achieving what would be their second victory over their mighty adversaries in 11 Tests.
Brodie Retallick and Wyatt Crockett have been ruled out via injury, resulting in Jeremy Thrush starting his second straight Test against the Springboks, while Joe Moody gets his maiden international berth.
Dane Coles, Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua, Liam Messam, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Ryan Crotty are included on the bench – while Malakai Fekitoa retains his spot at second five-eighth to earn his sixth All Blacks cap.
If number eight Duane Vermeulen, one of the standout players in the Springboks 10-14 loss to the All Blacks in Wellington, is ruled out, then Bismarck du Plessis will be the only change for the hosts.
