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'Boks will come with the same game plan': Schalk Burger predicts Wellington repeat for All Blacks
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Former Springboks flanker Schalk Burger has predicted that South Africa will replicate their Wellington game plan when they face the All Blacks in next month’s Test series.
After losing 24-17 to the All Blacks at Eden Park, the Springboks flipped the script with a new-look line-up and returned to beat the All Blacks 43-10 in Wellington the following week.
Key to the dominant win was the aerial supremacy by the Springboks, using the high ball through Mannie Libbok to put the home side under pressure repeatedly.
Burger highlighted that throughout July, none of the All Blacks’ opponents tested them out through the air effectively.
“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 told the panel on the Boks Unpacked X The Verdict podcast.
“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.”
The All Blacks have implemented new tactics to deal with the high ball after the escort rules have changed, preferring to use the retreating winger as the primary catcher when they can.
New first five-eighth Ruben Love has been secure in the backfield the few times he was required to, with Will Jordan and Josh Moorby fielding the lion share of kicks.
Although confident of South Africa’s prospects coming into the series, Burger conceded that the Boks haven’t felt pressure on defence so far in 2026 after games against England, Scotland and Wales.
The All Blacks are playing a high possession game with long phase counts, which will require the defence to tackle well.
“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 line speed all the time? That’s a different challenge.”
Despite claiming that they haven’t been put under pressure, the Springboks conceded 31 points against the Barbarians, 21 against England, 28 against Scotland before holding Wales to nil in their final July outing.
Wales and England were the bottom finishers in the Six Nations, while Scotland came third.
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