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The All Blacks and Springboks both released their team selections on Thursday for what is one of the most highly anticipated Tests, with the Eden Park record at stake for the hosts on Saturday, 6 September:
This is the 109th match between the All Blacks and Springboks, and the home side has famously not lost in Auckland’s Eden Park since 1994. It is a winning streak of 50 matches, which includes 48 wins and 2 draws. The Springboks drew there in 194 and last won at the venue in 1937.
But they also come into the fixture on the back of four consecutive losses to the current world champion Springboks. All of those losses, bar one, were very tight (decided by 6 points or less), and this game should be no different. Nine of the last 14 matches between the sides have had a winning margin of 6 points or less.
If you are expecting a try-fest, you'd best not tune in, but you would be a fool to miss this clash.
All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robinson is without the services of half a dozen players, including Patrick Tuipulotu, Cortez Ratima, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Cam Roigard, and Noah Hotham - the scrumhalf issue was one which got radical calls from some for the recall of both Japanese-based Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara, but sense prevailed.
There is a possible debut for Kyle Preston, who starts on the bench covering for starting scrum-half Finlay Christie. If Preston does run on, he will be the 8th debutant this year for the All Blacks.
Another key milestone among the confirmed selection is loose forward Ardie Savea being named to play his 100th Test match - he will become the 15th centurion for the country in the Men’s game.
All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson said of Savea, “Ardie embodies everything that makes an All Black. He brings an extraordinary level of passion, leadership, and mana every time he pulls on the jersey. We will honour his milestone with a performance that reflects not just his quality on the field, but the example he sets every day.”
Scott Barrett captains the side in his 83rd Test with his brother Jordie Barrett starting in the midfield as Vice-Captain.
Elsewhere positionally, Wallace Sititi starts at 8, and Simon Parker moves into 6, with Tupou Vaa’i starting in the second row. Dutch sensation Fabian Holland is among the reserves in the 5-3 split alongside Tyrel Lomax and Du’Plessis Kirifi.
Emoni Narawa starts on the wing in the only change among the backs from the line-up that lost to Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has held several media calls this week and appreciated the gravity of the occasion, and also predicted it will be a tight contest. His matchday selections suggest the record is one they are taking seriously, as an experienced squad has been selected.
The total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up is 939 – the fourth highest combined total in SA rugby history.
Erasmus made four changes to the starting team that beat the Wallabies in Cape Town, and Jesse Kriel retained the captaincy even though Siya Kolisi has recovered from an injury and will start on Saturday.
The coach said, “Jesse had already been told he would be the captain, and it was only fair for us to keep things that way. He’s a great leader and one of the core players in our team. His communication with the referee and his teammates is good, and he leads by example in the way he plays, so he deserves this opportunity.”
It will be Kolisi’s 95th Test match, and he could become just the ninth Springbok centurion in the history of the game by the end of the year. But a win at Eden Park is a feather in his cap that he would cherish.
Eben Etzebeth returns for his 136th Test and starts in the second row alongside Ruan Nortje, Siya Kolisi starts at No 8, and Pieter-Steph du Toit returns at flanker. Those three alone are worth their hefty weight in gold, but the decision to start centurion Willie le Roux at fullback speaks of the importance of the game.
Erasmus also has a 5/3 split bench, and among the replacements are Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Kwagga Smith and utility back Ethan Hooker, featuring in just his second.
The Springbok Head Coach explained, “We selected the best possible team we could for the match, knowing that this is going to be an epic encounter against the All Blacks at Eden Park, and many of these players have done the job for us before against them.
This is obviously going to be a completely different challenge to what we’ve faced against them in the last two years, with the match being hosted in New Zealand, and also at a venue where they hold a fantastic record.
When asked what would be the difference between the two sides and the eventual winner on Saturday, he said that the quality coming off the bench for both teams is similar, and ultimately, the belief of the players will be the difference, as well as the decision-making during the momentum shifts in this titanic battle.
Of what is on the line, he added, “There are records on the line for both teams, and there’s no doubt that this game will be important in trying to win the competition, especially given how close the standings are at this stage. It’s definitely going to be a special match, and both teams will give everything they've got out there.”
The Springboks’ longest winning streak against the All Blacks was six matches in a row between 1937 and 1949.
