It will come down to belief in the vital moments, that is what will win or lose the Springboks their Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said there was so little to choose between the two top sides in the world that it will be small margins that decides the game.
The Boks chose a settled side to face the All Blacks, and know that while they do have other big games, this is the biggest game of the year for both sides.
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Rassie Erasmus names his Springbok team for #TheRugbyChampionship showdown against the All Blacks at Eden Park 🇿🇦🚨#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/ECdbSYgyCl
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“I looked at the team they announced and the team we announced, and I think we're both going with a 5-3 split, and what they bring off the bench and what we bring off the bench, I think it's very much similar. And there hasn't been a lot between us. We’ve got a good referee, we know the way he referees.
“I think scrum time is going to be big for both teams, and I think both teams have been scrumming well. There's no six two splits (on the bench). I think the team they selected has got a lot of guys that are biting really hard at the breakdown.
“Kwagga (Smith) coming off the bench (for the Boks) and Du Plessis (Kirifi) coming off the bench (for the All Blacks) will be biting hard.
"We've got a lock on the bench, they've got a lock on the bench, and a full front row, and like us a nine, a midfielder and a winger on the bench. So I think both coaches, their management teams and coaching staff, are expecting a really tight game.
“I guess it's the belief at the vital moments, and that's always been the last couple of years. I know there was the big 57-0 by them a while back. But in all areas of the game it is going to be helluva competitive.”
🗣️ "Jean-Luc du Preez was originally selected to play at no.8 but injured a knee during training."@MattP555 explains why Jesse Kriel has been named captain, while Siya Kolisi will start in the 8 jersey at Eden Park.#SSRugby | #TheRugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/ZBu1Z0kB8s
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Erasmus said that, while the hoodoo of Eden Park was a big talking point in the media and the All Blacks’ 50-test unbeaten run there is exceptional, the Boks can’t be more motivated than what an All Black test match does to them. The desperation to win is there, and that won’t ever change between the two sides.
“It's a difficult thing for me to answer, so it doesn't come across the wrong way, but Ellis Park is a big ground for us, and two years ago, the All Blacks, after we beat them in Mbombela went there and they beat us at Ellis Park. Two weeks ago, we lost against Australia there, so it gets talked among us, obviously, and I listened to Australia when they spoke about that.
The All Blacks click into a different gear at Eden Park 🇳🇿🏡
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 3, 2025
What are your expectations for Saturday's crunch clash against the Boks? 💭#SSRugby | #TheRugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/eNuRSjWi9x
“But when it is achieved you don't go bragging around and say we beat them in Wellington a couple of years ago, and then we drew. After that, you don't go around and say we beat them in Wellington, we beat them in Wellington, so it's on the night, it's a 70 by 100 metre field, it's a referee, there's 15 guys on the field, there's a crowd that's going to be passionate - like we played against a French team in France in one of the games that was vital in the World Cup.
“We're not disrespecting that, we just don't think there's something more that can motivate us than just by playing the All Blacks, so I think it will be for them a hell of a benefit, but sometimes it isn’t - like for us against Australia when they beat us at Ellis Park.
“Internally it doesn’t get discussed a hell of a lot, because what can you do more than in any other game. It will be great if we achieve that, but that's not our driving factor this week.”