All Blacks warned chances will be limited against South Africa in Johannesburg

New Zealand assistant coach Mike Blair says the All Blacks must be more clinical when they face South Africa in the opening Test of their four-week series at Ellis Park on Saturday.

New Zealand have made a perfect start to their Greatest Rivalry tour, beating the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls, but Blair believes the real examination will begin against the Springboks in Johannesburg.

The first Test between the two sides, regarded as the best teams in the world, will kick off at 19:00 on Saturday. The match is the start of a closely contested battle that will continue over the next four weeks.

The All Blacks are expected to maintain their quick, attacking style and their preference for keeping the ball in hand. However, Blair accepts that opportunities are likely to be far less frequent against the world champions than they were in New Zealand’s opening matches in South Africa.

That makes execution, decision-making and the ability to convert chances into points particularly important.

“We’re aware that against South Africa we’re going to get less opportunities, so when we do get it, we’ve got to be right on,” Blair said after the victory over the Bulls.

“Our skill set and decision-making… it’s something we’re reviewing, talking about and training as well.”

New Zealand’s performances against the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls have given them momentum ahead of the first Test, but the challenge presented by South Africa will be on a different level.

The Springboks are known for the physical strength and intensity that underpin their approach, and Blair expects them to bring those qualities to the opening match. Even so, he believes the All Blacks can cause problems of their own if they stay true to the attacking principles they have developed during the tour.

“We’ve been walking towards this for quite some time,” Blair noted.

“We know what South Africa are going to bring. They’ve got some real strengths in amongst their DNA, but we see some opportunities as well.”

New Zealand therefore have no plans to abandon their preferred method of playing. Instead, the focus will be on ensuring that their handling, choices and finishing are precise whenever an opening appears.

The meeting at Ellis Park will provide the first clear indication of how the All Blacks measure up against South Africa in the Greatest Rivalry series. After their unbeaten opening run, they know they are unlikely to receive many clear chances and must make the most of those that come their way.