Former Sharks coach John Plumtree has sounded the alarm for the Springboks as they prepare to face a buoyant All Blacks squad this Saturday in Cape Town. After the All Blacks' commanding 33-16 victory at Ellis Park, the South African team finds itself scrambling to level the series in this next encounter.
With the series now moving to Cape Town Stadium, Plumtree anticipates strategic adjustments from the Springboks' side. He highlighted areas needing improvement from last weekend’s defeat in Johannesburg.
"I think defensively, they'll be getting more width on defence, and I think they're going to be working real hard on their skills this week,"
Plumtree praised the Springboks' mauling and scrumming, confident in their ability to improve on weaker aspects.
Contrastingly, Plumtree depicted the All Blacks as arriving in Cape Town with high morale. Led by Ardie Savea and coached by Dave Rennie, the team has shown a robust and cohesive front.
"They [the Boks] are under pressure. They’re up against a proper team, a united team, a happy team,"
He continued to commend the leadership within the All Blacks, particularly highlighting the synergy between Ardie Savea, the team's captain, and coaching staff members like Tana Umaga.
Furthermore, John Plumtree underscored the strength of the All Blacks' key players in critical positions. He placed special emphasis on the trio comprising their halfback, fly-half, and inside centre—Cam Roigard, Ruben Love, and Jordie Barrett, comparing them favorably with their counterparts in France.
As the discussion turned towards the upcoming face-off, Plumtree pointed out the significance of the match's timing. With only a week separating the two high-stake tests, he suggested that the shorter interval might play to New Zealand's advantage.
"Seven days is a long time for the Springboks and the New Zealanders will be looking at putting another little nail in that coffin,"
With the stage set for a crucial rematch, the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of the Springboks to rise to the occasion and counter the formidable challenge posed by their arch-rivals. Meanwhile, the All Blacks are just as determined to seal a memorable series triumph with another sterling performance this weekend.
