WAR OF ATTRITION: Boks prepare to peak as All Blacks face test of endurance

Coach Rassie Erasmus anticipates the Springboks will prevail against the tiring All Blacks in the final two Tests of the prestigious rivalry series. The Springboks have earned a reputation for peaking at crucial moments throughout their golden era, including World Cup victories and a British & Irish Lions series win, as well as three Rugby Championship titles since 2018.

Coach Erasmus has effectively managed the squad to keep players fresh and match-fit, a strategy that proved successful during the 2025 tour to Europe, where 37 players participated over five challenging weeks.

The current tour to the United States is seen as a rehearsal for the upcoming Greatest Rivalry Tests and the 2027 World Cup playoffs, also staged over four consecutive weeks. Erasmus believes the upcoming Tests could be more challenging than the recent matches at Ellis Park and Cape Town Stadium, and that proper squad management could be key to overcoming this challenge.

The All Blacks have suffered five serious injuries during the tour, and the depth of their squad will be put to the test as many of their leading players have accumulated over 200 minutes over the past six weeks, potentially struggling to maintain their performance in the final stage of the series. In contrast, only two Boks have played more than 200 minutes in this period, and the South Africans are reportedly starting to hit their peak.