New Zealand braced for improved Springboks in second test in Cape Town

Cape Town, August 27: New Zealand's rugby coach Dave Rennie anticipates both teams will deliver improved performances in Saturday's second test against South Africa in Cape Town. The All Blacks secured a 33-16 victory over the error-prone Springboks in the first test in Johannesburg, but Rennie anticipates the world champions will not repeat their underwhelming form.

New Zealand triumphed over South Africa in Auckland last year, but the subsequent game in Wellington marked their poorest test performance, a 43-10 drubbing under ex-coach Scott Robertson. Rennie acknowledged the potential for a bounce-back, stating they have discussed it within the team. He emphasized their intention to be better than their performance last weekend.

Handling the physicality of the Springboks is crucial, Rennie believes, given their strength in contact areas. Discipline issues, such as conceding soft penalties early in the game and providing easy opportunities for the Springboks, were also highlighted. Rennie dismissed the significance of the world rankings, focusing solely on the upcoming match.

He named his team with three changes to the starting XV, maintaining his concentration on Saturday's game.