Ex-All Blacks coach: 'Schoolboy' errors put Boks' TRC double in doubt

Former All Blacks coach John Hart is expecting a much-improved performance from the Springboks in Wellington this weekend, after the reigning world champs suffered a shaky loss against New Zealand in Auckland.

The defeat has inspired a selection upheaval in the South African camp, with Cheslin Kolbe and Canan Moodie the only backline starters from the Eden Park loss named to start at Sky Stadium.

Selections were a hot topic for Hart, who coached New Zealand to their first series win on South African soil in 1996.

“The result didn’t surprise me,” he told Newstalk ZB. “I thought the South Africans were very, very conservative in their selection in that Test match, particularly at 10 and 15, and I think it played out that way.

“They really didn’t have the enterprise or speed I think they needed to compete. The All Blacks would have been delighted with their start. They scored a couple of very, very good tries, well taken tries and probably that was the winning of the game, given the conditions, and they built on that.”

While the positives were clear for the All Blacks, Hart said the scrum was a concern, and the team are still searching for a real 80-minute performance, having surrendered two tries in the final quarter in Auckland.

“We didn’t look comfortable,” he added. “So there’s a lot of work-ons, and I’ve no doubt that this weekend there’ll be more work-ons because Rassie Erasmus is different, and he’s either a genius or I’m not sure, after changing virtually the whole back line.

“And whilst I expected changes at 15 and 10, particularly younger players coming in and more skill, more speed, I’m very surprised that he’s changed the midfield because the midfield has become one of their strengths physically in defence, and pretty strong on attack, and that they put pressure on the opposition. So I’m very surprised to see those changes.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

1

Draws

0

Wins

4

Average Points scored

17

24

First try wins

40%

Home team wins

60%

Inside centre Damian de Allende led the Springboks’ carry stats on the weekend, while outside centre Jeese Kriel was named stand-in captain due to the injury cloud over Siya Kolisi. Damian Willemse and Canan Moodie have replaced them in the starting XV for Wellington.

While the Eden Park Test saw numerous records and storylines converge to make it a superbly anticipated fixture, Sky Stadium has a different context. Hart says it is essential for Erasmus, now with two losses and a win to his name in the ’25 Rugby Championship, to even the ledger.

“Well, I have no doubt he was very keen to win at Eden Park, and no doubt he’d be very keen to win in Wellington, because if he loses in Wellington, he’s out of the Rugby Championship.

“His season’s on the line next Saturday at Wellington.

“So he’s obviously decided to cut away the conservative approach that he had last week. And look, some of those players are very exciting, but I’m just not sure the continuity, the change in selection, whether they can be as fluent as they’ll need to be.

“But I’m sure there’ll be a little more adventurous with their backs, and honestly, I’d expect their forwards to play a lot better than they did last week.”

Hart went on to offer a more detailed analysis of the Springbok pack’s performance.

“Well, their lineout was ordinary, and South Africa’s lineout’s not ordinary. They lost ball they shouldn’t lose. So I’m thinking some of those things will just be a real focus for them.

“The physicality, they’ll know that’s their game and that never changes. They’ll have that, but it’s all about putting pressure on the opposition, and they didn’t really put pressure on the opposition.

“They made mistakes, they were dropping stuff, some of which was schoolboy stuff. So I think there’ll be a step up from them on Saturday, and we’re going to have to match that.”