All Blacks ready for Rassie Erasmus’ tactical surprises ahead of Springboks series

The All Blacks are expecting “a few curveballs” from Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus when Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series gets under way, but head coach Dave Rennie says New Zealand have plans of their own.

New Zealand begin their tour against the Stormers on Friday, before facing the Sharks and Bulls in two further matches. Those fixtures will serve as preparation for the opening Test against South Africa at Ellis Park on 22 August.

Rennie paid tribute to Erasmus after naming his team to play the Stormers, praising the influence the Springboks coach has had on the game during the past eight years.

“He’s a big personality in the game, and he’s had a lot of influence,” Rennie said.

“He’s very innovative around what he’s done, and I think the fact that a lot of people talk about our game as a positive thing, he’s been a big part of that over the last eight years.”

Erasmus has developed a reputation for tactical innovation, and Rennie expects the Springboks to produce further surprises when the two sides meet in the Test series.

The All Blacks coach, however, believes New Zealand will not be relying solely on how South Africa approach the contests. He indicated that his own side is also preparing ideas designed to challenge the Springboks.

“We’ll expect a few curveballs coming in the series, and we’ve got a few plans ourselves,” noted Rennie.

The opening match of the tour against the Stormers will give the All Blacks their first opportunity to put those plans into practice. Their meetings with the Sharks and Bulls will follow before attention turns to the first Test at Ellis Park.

Rennie’s comments underline the importance of preparation for a series expected to be shaped not only by physical intensity but also by the tactical decisions made by both coaching teams. Erasmus’ willingness to innovate has been recognised by his New Zealand counterpart, yet the All Blacks are also signalling that they intend to bring their own surprises.

With both teams preparing for a contest watched closely across the rugby world, the series promises to be a compelling encounter between two of the sport’s most closely followed rivals. The build-up begins with New Zealand’s three tour matches, starting with Friday’s meeting with the Stormers, before the first Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park on 22 August.