Naas Botha Backs Springboks to Start Strong and Seal Baltimore Series Win Over All Blacks
- Springbok legend Naas Botha said South Africa's tight five gave the All Blacks a problem they could not fix in a short turnaround
- Botha flagged surprise at New Zealand's selection for the decider, with Damian McKenzie and Beauden Roigard left out of the starting lineup
- The former flyhalf credited Rassie Erasmus as the single biggest factor behind South Africa's transformation into a dominant rugby force
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Springbok legend Naas Botha believes South Africa hold both a physical and psychological edge over the All Blacks ahead of the fourth and final Test of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series, scheduled for M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore this weekend.
Speaking on CapeTalk's Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit on 10 September 2026, Botha said the Springboks' dominance up front had placed New Zealand in an uncomfortable position heading into the decider. South Africa currently lead the four-Test series 2-1.
Springbok forwards posing questions All Blacks cannot answer
Botha highlighted South Africa’s dominance in two key areas, pointing to the lineout maul that created the platform for Malcolm Marx’s try and the scrum that resulted in a penalty try. In his view, those are structural problems New Zealand would struggle to fix in such a short period.
“I don’t think they have a tight five that can actually match us at the moment,” Botha said, adding that the All Blacks were aware of the challenge facing them.
“And they know that. And that’s the difficult part for them.”
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The former Springbok also stressed the impact of New Zealand’s demanding travel schedule, which has left the team with limited time to recover and prepare for the Baltimore Test.
“You must keep the travel in mind. Because of all the travel, this is a really short week,” he said.
“And I just don’t think there’s enough time for New Zealand to recover.”
Even with his confidence in South Africa’s chances, Botha believes the opening exchanges could be crucial. He argued that a strong start from the Springboks could increase the pressure on New Zealand and reinforce any doubts created by the previous Tests.
“If we do, it can then turn into the psychological aspect where the opposition feels, ‘Oh, here we go again,’” he said.
Botha also expressed surprise at New Zealand's selection for the final Test, noting that Damian McKenzie and Beauden Roigard were absent from the starting lineup despite featuring prominently throughout the series. He said the changes could reflect squad management or an attempt to find a different approach, but cautioned that the Springboks should not lower their guard.
Erasmus the key turning point, says Botha
Asked what had shifted in South African rugby since the 1980s, Botha was unequivocal.
"The only thing that really changed is the appointment of Rassie Erasmus as the coach," he said.
"And I think he actually made a big turnaround where we were till where we are today."
He also highlighted the strength of South Africa's domestic structures, including the Varsity Cup and the Currie Cup, describing them as development pipelines feeding directly into the national squad.
On the debate around the number 10 jersey, Botha praised Handrè Pollard, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok, refusing to frame the competition as a problem.
"We should just look at it in one way and say we are extremely fortunate to be blessed with three fantastic fly-halves," he said.
Botha, now based in Kansas City where he serves as director of rugby at the Kansas City Blues Rugby Club, is also involved in preparing American rugby for the 2031 Men's Rugby World Cup.
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Source: Briefly News
