Preview: South Africa vs New Zealand

In making a host of changes in their line-ups, the coaches continue to explore their selection options in Round 2 of what amounts primarily to a precursor for the World Cup rather than a passionate quest for success in this competition itself. The 2015 Rugby Championship serves to test and verify the coaches’ thinking on players and strategies.

The All Blacks stuttered through much of their game against Argentina in Round 1, and were disappointed at conceding two lineout driving maul tries, but in the end the win was convincing and the players showed sufficient skill and flair for them to retain their ‘favourites’ tag for this competition and the bigger one to come in England.

The Springboks gave up what had been a strong lead late in the game in losing to Australia, with inexperience a factor in their failure to close out the game. They’ll be playing this weekend without their three strongest, wisest leaders – Jean de Villiers, Fourie du Preez, and Victor Matfield – offering another opportunity to the less experienced players to show they can crack it at Test level, and the more experienced players to help them to do so.

South Africa’s 27 kicks out of hand against Australia last week, contrasted with New Zealand’s 11 kicks from hand against Argentina, gives an indication of the teams’ differing approaches. Whether either team changes its game plan in northern hemisphere conditions during the World Cup is a moot point, but since the primary aim of the Rugby Championship is preparation for the World Cup, one would expect the players to be under instruction to hone the execution of September/October’s intended strategies.

Kicking out of hand can make for effective strategy, but then the decision-making on when and where to kick, and accurate execution, is crucial. Right now, the All Blacks do all that more accurately.

Much interest will focus on the Springboks lineout driving maul and the All Blacks defence to that. It’s a strong Bok weapon; can the All Black negate their vulnerability to this attacking ploy?

Important too will be the Springboks tackling success – they missed 26 tackles against Australia.

Key players:
For South Africa: With Heyneke Meyer wedded to Handré Pollard as first-choice flyhalf, offering Patrick Lambie no opportunity thus far to stake his claim, Pollard needs to justify that faith in him with better decision-making, and kicking out of hand and at posts, and tackling. Heinrich Brüssow, given a rare opportunity at openside, Damian de Allende, brilliant on attack but missing tackles on defence. The accomplished Schalk Burger and Francois Louw.  For New Zealand: Lima Sopoaga and James Broadhurst on Test debut, earned through the excellence of their Super Rugby performances, Israel Dagg, making progress in his comeback and quest for top form, the three superstar Smiths, Ben, Conrad, Aaron, all returning from rest, and 2014 World Rugby Player of the Year Brodie Retallick.

The big match-ups:
The Springbok lineout driving maul vs the All Black pack defending it. Bismarck du Plessis vs Dane Coles. The inexperienced but exceptionally talented Bok centres De Allende and Jesse Kriel up against the iconic duo, Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith. And two match-ups of seasoned, highly respected Test stars, Ben Smith vs Bryan Habana, and Burger vs Kieran Read.