Assistant coach Scott Hansen says New Zealand are tweaking their kicking strategies to apply the pressure on the Springboks when the teams resume hostilities on Saturday.
The arch-rivals last week returned to Rugby Championship action in Johannesburg, where the Boks came from a 10-point deficit to beat the All Blacks 31-27 at Ellis Park.
The win on the Highveld saw Rassie Erasmus’ charges extend their lead in the southern hemisphere competition, as the world champions top the table on 14 points.
Last week’s third successive win over the Kiwis marked only the second time in the professional era that the Boks had achieved a trio of wins. A victory at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday would mark only the second time in history that they win four matches in a row against the All Blacks.
Speaking in the buildup to the rematch, Hansen explained that all aspects of New Zealand’s game has been examined in the review, as they are disappointed to have not capitalised on a gilt-edged opportunity to win at Ellis Park.
“When you’re playing a team twice, it’s the ability to adjust. We’ve faced them, we understand them now,” he said. “They’ll see opportunities like we have through the review process, where we feel there are opportunities we can establish our game.
“They’re very good at squeezing teams, we need to be better at how we adapt during it but as well as that keeping our ability to attack to find space, be decisive.”
Hansen said with northern hemisphere referees controlling the games – Englishman Matthew Carley will blow the Cape Town clash – the All Blacks need to show better accuracy while adapting to the referee’s demands.
He emphasised that the Kiwis had plans to exit their territory before last week’s game but failed to do so, adding, “We need to get out of those corners better and more efficiently. We have discussed that.”
Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images/Getty Images
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