THE All Blacks may have already won the title for the fifth time since the inaugural competition in 2012 but are treating Saturday’s clash with the Springboks in Cape Town like any other game against a tier one opponent, thus naming their best available options.
Despite their 57-0 drubbing of the same team in Albany three weeks ago, the selectors have also noted how the Boks managed to turn around in Bloemfontein last week to draw 27-27 with the Wallabies, the second in a row between them.
But although it was a thrilling match in the way the lead changed hands four times in the second-half, the rugby itself wasn’t that exciting, with hardly a moment that one would recall with much enthusiasm.
Still, it’s going to be crunch time for the Springboks before they go to the north for the November internationals.
Already coach Allister Coetzee has been under a lot of scrutiny from former Springboks, pundits and fans alike and a poor game on Saturday plus poor tour results could mean the axe two years away from the World Cup.
Returning to the All Blacks starting 15 are players left behind when the team travelled to Buenos Aires for last weekend’s game, with the exception of senior lock Brodie Retallick who’s staying at home after the premature loss of his baby boy.
The backline has been strengthened after the replacements against the Pumas were deemed to have failed to capitalise on the firm footing provided by the forwards. Scrumhalf Tawara Kerr-Barlow is on the bench and could well play his last game for the All Blacks following his decision to join French club La Rochelle after this tournament.
Head coach Steve Hansen has also decided to give loosehead prop Kane Hames his third consecutive start after he showed much improvement last weekend following a far from outstanding debut start against the Springboks in Albany.
Coetzee hasn’t made any dramatic changes to his team but while the All Blacks do not think there will be a repeat of Albany, the Springboks have not shown many variations in their play. The inside pass from flyhalf Elton Jantjies to wing Courtnall Skosan, for example, has been seen many times in the last Super Rugby but continues to be very much a part of the Springboks’ game.
In the last game of this year’s tournament, the Pumas await the Wallabies in Mendoza, still without a point after five games.
The Argentinians may still surprise but unless their officials heed the call by coach Daniel Hourcade to find his replacement with two years left before the 2019 World Cup, it is crystal clear that Argentinian rugby is not progressing and will not achieve anything close to its previous best in past World Cups.
Veteran flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon has attributed their poor form to the long season they have had to deal with. In his words: “No other group of players in the world are playing Super Rugby for six months followed almost immediately by Tests”. He needs reminding that the same goes for players from the three other countries in the tournament.
The surprise element in this encounter is the decision by Wallabies’ coach Michael Cheika to name for the first time since he took charge of the team in late 2014 the same starting 15 for the second consecutive Test.
However, whether this is finally the squad Cheika is happy with will only be seen during the November Tests, when the Wallabies play Japan, Wales, England and Scotland and before that, on October 21 in Brisbane the third and final Bledisloe Cup game against the All Blacks.
The coach has made so many changes in two full seasons like no other that one is kept guessing as to which team he will name next. If the trend continues into the 2018 Southern Hemisphere season, Australian rugby may never settle down.