Scott Robertson searching for 'old All Blacks' aura to beat Springboks over two tests

SPOTLIGHT: 'Razor' chats with the media

New Zealand will need calm heads in the Ellis Park cauldron on Saturday as they seek to topple world champions South Africa at one of the home side's fortress venues and provide a boost for new coach Scott Robertson early in his tenure.

All Blacks captain Scott Barrett has returned from a broken finger to lead the side for the eagerly awaited clash, the first meeting of the two southern hemisphere giants since the World Cup final last year. Barrett missed the first two Tests of the competition at home against Argentina but takes his place in the second row alongside the in-form Tupou Vaa'i.

The All Blacks have made a mixed start to their Rugby Championship campaign, beaten 38-30 by Argentina in Wellington before dishing out a comprehensive 42-10 victory over the same opponents a week later in Auckland.

This will be a major step up against a buoyant Springboks side that has come off back-to-back bonus-point victories over Australia and are seeking a third win in a row against New Zealand.

Their previous meeting was the Rugby World Cup final in Paris last year, when South Africa edged the contest 12-11 to claim a record fourth global title.

"The last time we played against the Springboks, there were small margins in that game and we missed a couple of kicks," Robertson said.

"That is a reflection of how tight these games are over history. At the back end (of the game) you are usually not far from each other.

"Discipline and set-piece penalties will be important. Give away an offside or a collapsed maul and momentum can change quickly. Those match-ups are important to keep pressure on the opponent."

Robertson said the biggest considerations in selecting his side, which includes a start for flanker Sam Cane, were experience, combinations and a bench that can counter the Springboks' vaunted 'bomb squad' of forwards in the second half.

The addition of Robertson's compatriot Tony Brown as assistant coach has added an extra dimension to the way the Springboks attack.

"Their kicking game is exemplary, as is their ruck work," added Robertson. "We have seen their game evolve, how they play and how they use their forwards.

"Add in some Tony Brown magic and they can play around you too. They also have the physicality that comes with any Springbok team."

But in many ways, New Zealand coach Scott Robertson is searching for the ‘old All Blacks’, whose aura of invincibility has slipped in recent years, not helped in this Rugby Championship by a 38-30 home loss to Argentina in Wellington.

"It was always unique coming over here and also just playing them, it’s a different brand of footy. I feel like they’ve evolved and they are playing a lot more attacking rugby now," New Zealand hooker Codie Taylor added.

"We really love coming here, it's (Ellis Park) an awesome arena to play in, we've talked about it being the greatest place to play against one of the most dominant rugby teams."

KNOW HOW: Experienced Sam Cane has been recalled to the All Blacks ranks

New Zealand have recalled experienced former captain Sam Cane to the side of the scrum and will also have current skipper Scott Barrett in the team at lock after he recovered from a broken finger.

South Africa’s lock crisis has eased slightly after Eben Etzebeth was passed fit to be on the bench, but they are still without five regulars. Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit moves to the second row alongside Ruan Nortje, who earns a third cap.

But it is otherwise a largely first-choice selection from the hosts, who are seeking a third test win in a row over the All Blacks for the first time since 2009. They have won four of the previous six meetings.

"We just need to go out there, do our best, and make sure we don’t have any soft moments. We must be switched on all the time and be ready for whatever they throw at us," Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach said.

"Most of the players in their team have a unique skill of sorts, so we will have to be focused from the kickoff until the final hooter sounds."

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has been cleared to face New Zealand on Saturday after completing all the training sessions this week and has been drafted onto the replacements bench for the encounter.

Etzebeth, who was initially excluded from the Boks’ match-23 for the first of two Tests against their southern hemisphere arch-rivals due to an injury concern earlier in the week, replaces Marco van Staden on the bench, which offers the team specialist lock cover for the starting combination of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ruan Nortje.

Should he get game time, the Test will mark Etzebeth’s 125th in the green and gold jersey, which will see him leapfrog Bryan Habana as the second most capped Springbok of all time and take one step closer to Victor Matfield’s Springbok Test record of 127 caps.

“Our selection policy has always been that if a player does not train on a Monday he will not play on Saturday, but Eben has made it through training pain-free all week, so we had to make the tough call to name him in the squad at the expense of Marco,” said Erasmus.

“There were back-up options for us at lock in the initial squad, but with Eben on the bench it means we have another specialist in that position in the team.

“We are blessed to have an expanded squad of about 45 players who have all bought into our plans and who understand what’s best for the team, and it’s admirable how Marco accepted the news. It shows the quality of the player and person he is.” 

South Africa lead the Rugby Championship table after two rounds following a full haul of 10 points from bonus-point wins in Australia. New Zealand are second with five points.

The second meeting between the sides will be in Cape Town on Sept. 7.

SOUTH AFRICA: A Fassi; C Kolbe, J Kriel, D de Allende, K.L Arendse; S Feinberg-Mngomezulu, C Reinach; O Nche, B Mbonambi, F Malherbe; P.S. du Toit, R Nortje; S Kolisi (capt), B Dixon, J Wiese.

Replacements: M Marx, G Steenkamp, V Koch, E Etzebeth, E Louw, K Smith, G Williams, H Pollard.

NEW ZEALAND: B Barrett; W Jordan, R Ioane, J Barrett, C Clarke; D McKenzie, TJ Perenara; T Williams, C Taylor, T Lomax; S Barrett (capt), T Vaa'i; E Blackadder, S Cane, A Savea.

Replacements: A Aumua, O Tu’ungafasi, F Newell, S Darry, S Finau, C Ratima, A Lienert-Brown, M Tele’a.