The Springboks' ability to keep up for 80 minutes against the All Blacks will rely on substitutes like Damian de Allende. Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images.
The Springboks deserve credit for the way they’ve turned things around this year after the horrors of 2016.
Last weekend’s draw against the Wallabies in Perth though illustrated that they’re still a work in progress.
Also read: Springboks rate All Blacks above Lions
It’s unlikely that they’ll beat the All Blacks in Albany on Saturday but they can be far more competitive if they focus on these four things.
Aggressive, focused defence
It’s ironic that the Springboks’ tackling has been such a talking point this week because, statistically, they’ve been the best defenders in this year’s Rugby Championship.
That said, South Africa haven’t followed the example of others in employing the so-called rush defence.
It’s an approach that worked brilliantly for the British and Irish Lions in their series draw against the All Blacks as they cramped up the space for New Zealand’s backs to weave their magic.
The Springboks defend deeper but that means they grant opponents more space too.
And when they do rush off their lines, they look disorganised.
Whatever the approach is, the Springboks need to execute it 100%.
Stable halfbacks
Elton Jantjies has undoubtedly grown as an international flyhalf in 2017.
His goalkicking has improved and generally makes good decisions.
But the Lions pivot still needs to convince that he doesn’t crumple up when he’s put under severe pressure.
Already, his tactical last weekend was poor and on Saturday he won’t have the reliable Ross Cronje alongside him due to illness.
Instead, Jantjies will have to cope with the more erratic Francois Hougaard, whose game-breaking ability can’t mask his sloppy service.
He also looked rattled against Argentina in Salta.
The Springboks need them to be calm and clear with their plans.
Rookies need to forget their inexperience
This is a promising group of Springboks but they lack collective wisdom.
It was noted this week that coach Allister Coetzee is down to his third-choice tighthead prop, eighthman and, arguably, blindside flanker.
South Africa truly are lacking senior players at the moment and that places increased responsibility on everyone.
It means the rookies will have to play with conviction.
There’s no room for doubt because that leads to iffy decision-making, something the Boks – who already have one hand tied behind the back in terms of experience – really don’t need.
The bench needs to stay magical
One of the Springboks’ undoubted strengths have been the difference the replacements make.
In fact, Steven Kitshoff, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jean-Luc du Preez (who’s been promoted to the starting line-up) have played so well that they probably deserve starting spots.
However, Coetzee understandably have kept them on the bench because they provide such a much-needed injection of energy and skill.
By now, everybody knows most teams aren’t conditioned enough to keep the All Blacks occupied for 80 minutes.
But the fine physical specimens of the Springboks could make things interesting.