Stormers, Sharks and Bulls show Springboks where All Blacks can be hurt in Greatest Rivalry series

In preparation for the first Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, the Springboks have identified several areas where the All Blacks may be vulnerable, based on their performances in the three recent United Rugby Championship matches. The Stormers, Sharks, and Bulls all put up a strong fight against the Kiwis, revealing soft spots in the All Blacks' defense that the Boks may exploit.

Leighton Koopman points out five areas the South African team could target in the upcoming Test at Ellis Park on Saturday. The Stormers demonstrated that focusing on the Springboks' forwards is a successful strategy. Additionally, the Kiwis struggled with their scrum, front rowers' performance, and were unable to start games quickly, which is uncharacteristic of them.

The South African scrum is known for its powerful impact, and despite an injury cloud surrounding scrum-half Ox Nché, the Boks still possess a formidable force. The lineout defense and rolling maul were also weak points in the All Blacks' game plan, and the Boks will aim to utilize their pounding lineout drives to score tries and create strong attacks in the opposition half.

The Boks are expected to impose their style of play from the start, and a strong maul could lead to varied styles of play and further opportunities for the South African team.

Another factor the Springboks may consider is the impact of injuries on the All Blacks' lineup. With key players already lost, further disruptions could force coach Dave Rennie to select untested combinations. This could potentially expose weak links in the New Zealand defense. Additionally, the lack of specialist winger Will Jordan has hindered the All Blacks' kicking game, making the Boks' high kick specialists, Cheslin Kolbe, Damian Willemse, and Kurt-Lee Arendse, particularly effective against their visitors.