Rassie Erasmus Flags New All Blacks Tactic and Tight Five Threat Ahead of Ellis Park Test
- Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus identified a specific aerial contest tactic used by the All Blacks that South Africa must prepare to counter on Saturday
- Erasmus described the All Blacks' lock pairing of Josh Lord and Fabian Holland as a genuine threat despite their relative youth
- The first of four Tests in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series between South Africa and New Zealand kicks off at Ellis Park in Johannesburg
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Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has identified a specific All Blacks tactic and raised concerns about New Zealand's tight five ahead of Saturday's Test at Ellis Park, the first of four matches in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series.
Both squads have now named their match-day lineups, allowing Erasmus and his counterpart to study the opposition in detail. The build-up has been far from quiet, with the two coaches trading barbs in the media over tactics, injury concerns surfacing on both sides and an exchange of mutual respect punctuating the week's noise.
**Erasmus Zeroes In on All Blacks Back Three**
Speaking to the media on Friday, Erasmus drew attention to an unconventional aerial contest approach employed by New Zealand's back three that he described as both clever and difficult to prepare for.
"They've got this new thing where the winger runs back and he runs backwards and catches it," Erasmus said. "It's normally the fullback or the winger that runs forward and catches it."
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He acknowledged the tactic has been effective for New Zealand but confirmed the Springboks have already begun exploring ways to neutralise it. "I think it's a wonderful strategy and very clever and innovative. That will be a challenge for us, but obviously we will look around a few opportunities how to counter it," he said.
**Lock Battle and Hooker Depth Concern Erasmus**
When pressed on the second row contest, Erasmus acknowledged that All Blacks locks Josh Lord and Fabian Holland, aged 23 and 25 respectively, carry genuine physical threat, while noting that synchronisation at lineout time would ultimately determine which pack prevails.
"It's a combination of the hooker and the calling system and how we contest and what we want to do where on the field," Erasmus explained. He also flagged New Zealand's mauling game and their capacity to create space through movement, referencing a style of play reminiscent of a Woodcock play from 2011.
Erasmus reserved particular praise for All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor, describing him as an excellent lineout thrower, while also warning of the physical impact expected from reserve hooker Asafo Aumua off the bench.
On the Springbok side, Erasmus pointed to the height of his own lock options, naming Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth and Ruan Nortje as tall enough to match New Zealand's physicality in the air. "It's more about how in sync you can be on attacking lineouts when you have the ball and how you can possibly disrupt their throws," he said. "I think it's going to be a closely contested area of the game."
The Test kicks off at Ellis Park on Saturday as part of the four-match Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series between South Africa and New Zealand.
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Source: Briefly News
