The Boks have a rare opportunity to claim back-to-back wins over the olde enemy. Not since 2009 have the Boks accomplished such a feat. They host die Schwarzwelle at Loftus, a place a torment for past Boks. They have never beaten the Kiwis here in four attempts. The last attempt ending in a 26-45 defeat in 2006. In fact, New Zealand have never scored under 33 points at this venue. A faint glimmer of hope can be found in the fact that the Boks have never lost 4 consecutive test to New Zealand since readmission. Twice before they've halted the All Black machine at the fourth home test.
New Zealand lead the RC with a staggering 29 tries. Ten more than second best South Africa on 18. They also lead the league with 103 clean breaks, 47 more than fourth place South Africa. Ominously, the All Blacks have made plenty of use of those breaks as they've accumulated almost double metres carried, where the Boks, yet again, languish in fourth place. Interestingly, the Kiwis lead the competition in the set pieces, a traditional Bok strength. Their lineout is at 86.8% to the Bok's 84.9%; Their scrum is at 100% to the Bok's 91%. Poor lineout throws have proven costly for the Boks, having already ultimately cost them the test in Brisbane. Marx will need to be better than anything he has been to date. The Bok scrum has been serviceable, but nothing to write home about since the first Puma test. Ruck success is very even between the four sides as New Zealand are top with 97% while the rest stand at 96%.
On home soil the Boks average 23 points to New Zealand's 28. The tries are 2:3 in New Zealand's favour. The Boks have lost 8 of their 18 home. Losses by 7 points or less. They've conceded a staggering 15 tries in their past three home tests! The most competitive the Boks have been was under coach Jake White. They won 3.out of 5 tests when the Boks led the All Blacks 13 tries to New Zealand's 12. The Boks had their best all round game in 2004's Ellis Park test where they outscored the All Blacks 5 tries to 2 in a 40-26 win. Their highest points total was the 46 achieve in 2000, again, at Ellis Park. The Boks scoring 6 tries to New Zealand's 4.
Barrett and Dyantyi are level at 5 tries apiece. Kolisis leads for the Boks with 18 defenders beaten, the only Bok in the top 10. Naholo and Ben Smith are level at 22 defenders beaten, the latter being a real handful for the Boks throughout the previous encounter. The Boks have 5 players in the top 11 for tackles won: Steph tops the table at 78, Mostert shares second place with Kremer with 58, Kolisis shares fifth place with Matera with 55, Whiteley is at eighth with 50 and Malherbe shares tenth place with Lavinini with 47. New Zealand have only one player in Sam Whitelock, who occupies fourth place with 57 tackles. The Boks have had little attacking output the past two tests and will be hoping to inflict more punishment on an All Black side that has shown vulnerabilities on defence.
