Springboks determined to level series against All Blacks in Cape Town

The Springboks are determined to respond to their 33-16 defeat by the All Blacks when the sides meet again at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.

The loss in Johannesburg ended South Africa’s 12-match winning run and allowed New Zealand to reclaim top spot in the World Rugby rankings. Victory in the second Test would give the Springboks the chance to level the four-Test series.

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus says his players remain deeply disappointed by their performance in front of their home supporters and are motivated to deliver a significantly improved display in Cape Town.

“We are proud South Africans. You could see when the guys went onto the field that the people are hurting, so we are very desperate to win this game. We see that in the training sessions and the coaches’ mindsets. But you can’t suddenly overload yourself with work and training just because you’re playing the number one team on Saturday. It’s about planning, getting aligned, and having intensity in training sessions, but I see a lot of determination,” said Erasmus.

Erasmus has accepted responsibility for the tactical decisions that contributed to the defeat at Ellis Park and has held media conferences on consecutive days during the build-up to the second Test.

The coach insists that taking the blame is not intended to shield the players from criticism. Instead, he believes the coaching staff must accept their share of responsibility because many of the instructions given to the team were followed during the match.

South Africa have also been boosted by the return of captain Siya Kolisi, who has recovered from a hamstring injury and will start at No.6 on Saturday. Paul de Villiers has been left out of the matchday squad.

Erasmus praised de Villiers for his contribution in Johannesburg but believes Kolisi’s experience and leadership will be particularly valuable as the Springboks seek to restore their momentum and draw level in the series. Kolisi will form the loose trio alongside Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese.

Springbok scrum-half Cobus Reinach says the All Blacks’ pressure at the breakdown was not aimed specifically at him or Grant Williams during the opening Test.

Instead, Reinach believes New Zealand applied sustained pressure across the breakdown area, preventing South Africa from securing fast possession and forcing the Springboks into difficult decisions.

South Africa have used their training sessions to recreate the All Blacks’ approach, with the aim of improving their ability to cope with that pressure in Cape Town.

The match will also mark an important milestone for Pieter-Steph du Toit, who is set to win his 100th Test cap for the Springboks at DHL Stadium.

Du Toit will become only the 11th South African player to reach a century of Test appearances. Ox Nche is also due to make his 50th appearance for South Africa.

Reinach has praised Du Toit’s consistency, resilience and leadership, saying the forward’s ability to remain influential through difficult periods of his career makes the achievement especially significant.

The Springboks now have home advantage again, but must overcome the team that ended their winning streak and replaced them at the top of the world rankings. Their immediate objective is to produce the response Erasmus believes has been evident in the intensity and determination of the team’s preparations.