Wallace Sititi demands accountability as depleted All Blacks target Springboks revenge

Following their 29-24 defeat to the Springboks at FNB Stadium, the All Blacks conducted a candid review of their performance, with loose forward Wallace Sititi detailing the squad's sobering introspection. The New Zealand team suffered 12 penalties in Soweto, which proved costly, repeatedly opening up dangerous territory for South Africa.

Sititi emphasized the importance of rectifying these self-inflicted wounds if his side hopes to level the four-Test series at 2-2. "We had a pretty stern review and now it's about moving forward," Sititi stated. "We have got a big Test this weekend. Anywhere you give away penalties it's always an issue, not just the breakdown. Sort of anywhere.

I guess we are just giving them easy entry into our 22m and they are capitalising on it a bit better than we are." The Springboks' forward dominance, exemplified by a penalty try from a destructive scrum and a scoring drive from a long-range driving maul, exposed defensive vulnerabilities that the All Blacks are resolved to address before facing them again in Maryland.

Sititi admitted that conceding tries like those suffered in Soweto is never pleasant and is taken very seriously by the team. "We are focusing on getting better there and making sure it doesn't happen again," Sititi acknowledged. The Baltimore challenge is further complicated by a growing casualty list. Captain Ardie Savea and openside flanker Luke Jacobson have both been ruled out due to injury, leaving a significant void in the back row.

Despite this setback, Sititi, who substituted in for Savea in Soweto and delivered a standout display, is adamant that the squad will not shy away from accountability. "We have been around long enough to know that when it's time to step up, it's your time to step up," Sititi declared. "We will make sure we hold each other accountable."