George Bower expects another fierce scrum battle as All Blacks face Springboks

All Blacks prop George Bower expects the scrum to be central once again when New Zealand meet South Africa in the third Test of the Greatest Rivalry Series at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.

The set piece has dominated discussion since the teams’ second Test in Cape Town last weekend, where several scrums on New Zealand possession had to be reset. Referee Angus Gardner chose not to penalise either side during those exchanges.

Bower said New Zealand were fully prepared to contest another demanding battle at the scrum and dismissed any suggestion that the All Blacks would attempt to avoid South Africa’s strength.

“South Africa’s front rowers love to scrum direct, and the angles can change all of a sudden,” Bower noted.

“You have to be really connected as a front row because you never know which way the scrum is going to go.

“That’s pretty much the DNA of their scrum. When the angles change like that, momentum can shift in an instant.”

The prop said the Springboks regard the scrum as an important way of winning penalties and gaining territory, but insisted New Zealand shared the same appetite for the contest.

“I love to scrum. I want to scrum,” he said.

“I know South Africa pride themselves on the scrum, they see it as their avenue to get penalties and get their game going, moving up the field.

“But for us too, you can see from Test one our mindset around the scrum is right up there as well.

“We want to challenge them, and I know my back five want to scrum too.”

Scrum debate intensified before the second Test after All Blacks coach Dave Rennie said he had raised concerns with World Rugby about aspects of the Springbok scrum that he believed were illegal.

The comments triggered a public exchange between the two camps. South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus appeared frustrated during the Springboks’ news conference after their victory in Cape Town, particularly after Rennie referred to the matter again following the match.

Rennie said he had initially been responding to a question from the media and had not followed the reaction that came afterwards.

“I got asked a question in the media. I said what I thought,” Rennie said.

“I don’t tend to read anything, so I’m not aware there’s been more of that going on during the week. I answered the question. I moved on.”

He also rejected the idea that the disagreement had created hostility between himself and Erasmus.

“Rassie and I had a beer immediately after the game, which was good,” Rennie said.

“I don’t see it as a war of words between him and I.

“I’ve said a couple of things; he’s said a couple of things.”

With the third Test approaching, both teams must now turn their attention back to the contest on the field. The winner in Soweto will be unable to lose the series, increasing the importance of a match in which the scrum is again expected to face intense examination.

The All Blacks have also strengthened their pack for the Calabash clash against the Boks.

Kick-off at FNB Stadium is scheduled for 17:10.