Schalk Burger says the Springboks’ defence will be truly tested for the first time this season by the All Blacks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
He believes continuous improvement remains the Boks’ focus heading into the four-Test showdown in the Republic, despite the world champions sweeping aside England, Scotland and Wales in the opening half of the Nations Championship.
Speaking on the Boks Unpacked X The Verdict podcast with fellow ex-Boks Jean de Villiers and Hanyani Shimange, Burger highlighted key areas to sharpen before facing New Zealand, who also went unbeaten with wins over France, Italy and Ireland.
“Defensively, we weren’t put under a lot of pressure [in the Nations Championship so far],” Burger said.
“If we come up against the All Blacks, and if they play like they currently are, we’re going to be making 160, 180 tackles, so tackle success rate is one area to improve.
“And also, do you have the ability to have that intensity and linespeed all the time? That’s a different challenge.”
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Burger also weighed in on whether New Zealand’s three wins under new head coach Dave Rennie exposed any weaknesses the Boks could exploit.
“None of the teams that they’ve played against have really challenged them in an aerial kicking game. The French game, it’s a long kick, a long kick. Ireland, this past weekend, didn’t get involved in a kicking battle,” he said.
“It’s a different game when you’re running back and against the Springboks. You think of that Wellington Test match last year, under the high ball, that was ultimately where the Boks dominated. The Boks will come with the same game plan.
“This is going to be such a fascinating format series because we don’t have those opportunities anymore. You know the All Blacks will be better for it by the third or fourth game.
“The first two games, if the Springboks keep on improving, we’ll put them under immense pressure.”
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Shimange noted the contrasting styles set to define the series, with the Kiwis’ attacking ambition up against South Africa’s set-piece strength.
“You look at Dave Rennie and he’s spoken about brutality and playing with optimism, so they want to have a go if it’s on,” he said.
“You can see from scrums, especially down in their half, if the wings drop back they take it flat, have a run and all of a sudden you are behind the back foot.
“Our fundamentals have been good scrum, mauls, lineout … I don’t think New Zealand have been challenged there.
“It’s contrasting styles, but that’s where the differentiator is going to be – when it comes to Test match rugby and you get a scrum on your 5m line and you’re a point behind or point ahead, who wins that battle.”
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