Josh Moorby reveals All Blacks’ expectations of Boks amid style debate

All Blacks outside back Josh Moorby isn’t feeding into the narratives around the Springboks possibly slowing the game down ahead of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour.

There’s been a tense feel to the first Test week in the Republic, with both coaches responding to and discussing certain narratives surrounding this weekend’s showdown at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

The All Blacks, who have preached a fast-paced contest, are clear in their intentions to take the game to the Springboks from the get-go in the first Test.

One player who will welcome the All Blacks’ high ball-in-play attitude is Moorby, who dotted down for two tries against the Bulls in Pretoria, continuing his exceptional try-scoring form from the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.

But the All Blacks are well aware that not everything will go their way, and the Springboks will force Dave Rennie’s side to play where they don’t want to and not on their own terms.

“They’re going to bring a high line speed and challenge us with ball in hand and test our skills,” Moorby said in Johannesburg.

“So for us, we know the threat that they’re going to pose, and I guess it’s about just being patient and being calm and trusting our game and our system.

“And yeah, just letting, I suppose, our skill set and where we want to play do the work.”

Moorby addressed the game style that they believe the Springboks will employ against the All Blacks, describing a mix of old-fashioned set-piece-based play and a dangerous ball-in-hand game.

“I think a bit of both. They’re obviously very good at retaining possession through the high ball and contestable game, but they also got the athletes to throw the ball around and challenge us out wide.

“So yeah, we can expect, I think, a variety of rugby from them.”

The 28-year-old Te Awamutu-born winger then reflected on his whirlwind career path, which included a one-year stint in France with Montpellier, before returning to Wellington to play for the Hurricanes.

“Yeah, I think it was really beneficial for myself, not only developing as a person, but also understanding what I really enjoy about rugby and taking the great parts of the French style and sort of adding it to my game, trying to mould myself as a better player.

“So, yeah, I guess it’s just being able to develop and, as I say, take the little parts out of different games and yeah, trying to build myself. I guess a better player.”

Rennie, who addressed the comments from Peyper and Erasmus, is clear that they feel two of the URC sides visibly tried to slow the game down.

“We’ve played club sides where it’s been very slow, and one of the lineouts against the Sharks took 50 seconds to set, and so the Bulls had a much more positive mindset,” Rennie told reporters ahead of the first Test.

“There’s a lot more ball and play, and yeah, so yeah, I’m anticipating the Springboks will feel the same way.”

Rassie Erasmus, who brought former referee Jaco Peyper to his first press conference of the week, was strong on his beliefs around the game and what sort of style the Springboks will play.

“And yes, the law is very clear: 30 seconds from the moment the referee puts his foot down to make a mark, whether it’s scrum or lineout, not from the whistle, from when the foot’s put down, there’s 30 seconds to form, not to get the ball in.

“You can down on your knees. If you want to huddle, you can huddle. There’s nothing in the law that says you can’t huddle, you know.

“We think there’s a certain way how you win World Cups, and we think that’s a grind.

“We think when you’re under pressure on your attack, it’s very tough to keep cohesion if the pressure is very big and you start fumbling a few balls and then you must stick to your guns.”