The All Blacks are hoping some fresh legs in the forward pack will give them an edge in Sunday morning’s test against the Springboks.
With the series locked one-all, the match is the last on South African soil and is effectively a series decider, with the fourth and final game in the US.
It is also a double-header, with the Black Ferns set to make some history of their own on this weekend.
Springboks fans were in full voice after the second test win in Cape Town as South Africa levelled the series and with the third test back at altitude in Johannesburg, All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has made three changes to his forward pack as he seeks to inject some energy into the side.
Asafo Aumua has been promoted to the starting side.
Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
Hooker Asafo Aumua and loose forward Peter Lakai, who both made a significant impact off the bench last weekend, have been elevated to the starting XV, as has lock Sam Darry, who didn’t play in the first two tests.
“Asafo’s been excellent impact and Asafo will get a lot more footy this week which will be great,” Rennie said.
“Sam Darry hasn’t played in the test series but (he’s got a) massive engine and how we want to play, that’ll be handy at altitude we think. We think Pete’s been excellent for us, great impact, so we’re excited about what he could bring.”
Sam Darry will start against the Springboks.
Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz
With Ethan de Groot not considered after missing the first test with concussion, veteran George Bower will again start at prop.
He can’t wait to see Aumua, who is also from the Avalon rugby club in Wellington, unleashed on the Springboks.
“My fellow Avalon Wolf. He’s in form, the way he’s been working around the field, his explosiveness, he’s almost the ultimate athlete,” Bower said.
“He’s just powerful and strong and he keeps working hard and yeah, he’s just a raging bull.”
Asafo Aumua in action against the Sharks.
Ron Gaunt/www.photosport.nz
Rennie believes being back at altitude could give them an advantage over the hosts, with the tourists keen to run the big ‘Boks ragged at Soccer City Stadium, which holds over 90,000 fans.
The All Blacks have won eight of their last ten games on the South African Highveld (Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld and Johannesburg’s Soccer City and Ellis Park) and Rennie said they’re embracing the challenge of playing at 1700m above sea level.
“I think you’ve got to,” Rennie said.
“We don’t tend to talk too much about altitude. We know it’s going to be tough, it’ll be tough for both sides, but we’ll back our conditioning and the mindset to keep working at altitude. We certainly don’t see it as a negative playing up here.”
Rennie said the All Blacks have some strategies to improve their success at the lineout and under the high ball, which let them down at times in Cape Town.
He believes they’ve made the adjustments needed to win and while New Zealand fans in Johannesburg are backing their team, they’re not as bullish as they were before the second test.
All Blacks fan Diego in Johannesburg.
Joe Porter
“Yes, I think the All Blacks will win,” said Diego.
“I think we should get there, but it’ll be tight. I’m probably thinking there’s going to be another come from behind victory.
“Taking my mate here, he’s a South African, so we’ve got our own rivalry going. The series is tied 1-1 and it couldn’t be any better going back into the third test. I think the All Blacks win 33-31.”
All Blacks supporter Corey is significantly more confident.
“We’re going to win 32-15. I just think the way we finished the last half of the last game, you know, we were kind of dominating there. I just think we’ll bring that from the start this time rather than let them get a bit of a quick head start, you know.”
All Blacks fans Dayna and Corey in Johannesburg’s Mandela Square.
Joe Porter
The Black Ferns will also be in action at Soccer City and the New Zealand women will make history by playing he Springbok Women in South Africa for the first time.
If 90,000 fans do show up it could also become the biggest ever crowd for a women’s test.
The Black Ferns are heavy favourites and coach Whitney Hansen is backing both her side and the All Blacks to win.
“I won’t be putting any TAB bets on, that’s illegal for me, but obviously, I’m backing our boys,” Hansen said.
“If I could put money on the TAB, I’d be putting it on the ABs.”
The All Blacks and Springboks will share a charter flight to the US not long after the game has finished and Rennie said he’d much rather board the plane after a victory.
“That’s the goal. Rassie (Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus) and I joked about it last week, actually, because, you know, someone’s going to be grumpy getting on that plane.”
The All Blacks and their fans will be hoping it’s the Springboks who are grumpy after what shapes as an epic clash in rugby’s greatest rivalry.
