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Rassie Erasmus reacts to All Blacks’ changes after injuries to key players

Mark Tele’a of New Zealand talks to his teammates during The Rugby Championship match between New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Eden Park on August 17, 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has praised All Blacks wingers Sevu Reece and Mark Tele’a ahead of their return to the starting side this week. Reece and Tele’a are back as two of the five changes to the All Blacks’ First XV for Saturday’s Test in Cape Town.

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On Thursday, the All Blacks announced their team for their ‘rematch’ against the Springboks. New Zealand were beaten by their fierce foe 31-27 at Johannesburg’s Emirates Airline Park last weekend and they’re intent on bouncing back while they’re in South Africa.

Youngster Wallace Sititi comes into the run-on side for the first time after being named at blindside flanker. Cortez Ratima has been promoted to starting halfback while TJ Perenara drops to the bench, and Will Jordan’s shift from wing to fullback is another big talking point.

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There are two injury concerns for the All Blacks with backrower Ethan Blackadder and winger Caleb Clarke both ruled out. Blackadder was a man “possessed” during the Johannesburg Test and Clarke also stood out with an impressive double in the narrow defeat.

But, the injury to Clarke has opened the door for a bit of a backline reshuffle with Beauden Barrett also dropping to the bench. At the Springboks’ press conference on Thursday, Erasmus was especially complimentary towards New Zealand’s two new starting wingers.

“Look, Sevu and Tele’a… (Sevu) is just very dangerous and Tele’a is the guy. He’s physical, dangerous, legs are pumping all the time – someone (who) picks and goes from the middle of the ruck,” Erasmus told reporters at the team’s hotel.

“(Assistant coach) Jerry (Flannery) worked hard on not to stop individuals but for the guys to know individuals because if you think you’re just going to tackle them, a normal tackle, then they’ll get away.

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“I thought Caleb Clarke, anyway, was fantastic but he’s injured I think.

“Ethan is unfortunately injured so they had to make a change there. I think we made five changes and they made five changes.”

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Reece and Tele’a have an opportunity now to stake their claim in the black jersey once again, and there might be no grander stage to do it than DHL Stadium on Saturday. The Freedom Cup is on the line, with the Boks looking to win it back for the first time since 2009.

South Africa are also in a prime position to push on towards their first Rugby Championship crown since 2019. But if the likes of Reece, Tele’a, Jordan and Sititi can take their opportunities with both hands, then the All Blacks should be able to build on last week’s performance.

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On Saturday, the All Blacks were on the cusp of what would’ve been an incredible win at Emirates Airline Park. They led 27-17 with 15 minutes left to play, but a yellow card to Ofa Tu’ungafasi swung the match’s momentum in the hosts’ favour.

Replacements Kwagga Smith and Grant Williams scored a try each as the Springboks clawed their way back into the lead with about six minutes left to play. It never looked like they’d surrender that advantage as the 60,000 in attendance helped bring them home.

The All Blacks had been labelled the underdogs for that Test but, as Erasmus explained, they showed “their greatness will always be around.” Erasmus and the Springboks expect no different on Saturday evening in Cape Town.

“I think what the world knows about them. (They’re) a magnificent team,” Erasmus added.

“Maybe I used the wrong word in the post-match conference… I think they were very unlucky.

“They obviously were not on a high there after the loss to Argentina but then the next game they thrashed them.

“For us going to New Zealand is daunting… I remember us playing a Test match there, we were 15 points up at minute 75 and they still scored three tries… I think our guys are learning a little bit from that. The moment you think you have them, you don’t have them.

“They’ve got a lot to offer not just strategically; their scrums are great, their mauls are great. They certainly matched us at the set phases very well. I thought the breakdown was a tight contest.

“… then they’ve got these individual guys who from nothing do something. It’s a very difficult team to coach against, to play against. Their greatness will always be around them just because they’ve got really special players and coaches.”

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Comments

7 Comments
T
TT 207 days ago

If I was the opposition coach, I to would praise having to rest 1st test stars Clarke & Blackadder, then replacing positions with less performing Telea & Reece & especially Rookie Sititi but also fullblack restart Jordan. Is it Xmas time I'd ask.

s
snr.star 208 days ago

AB v SA is the greatest match up in rugby, end of....and respected by fans in spite of all the BS talk.

We have not seen the best of AB teams for a while... successive coaches keep selecting players out of position..

Savea is a 7 not 8, Satiti is 8 not 6, Riko is a world class wing not 13, Jordy is a classy 15, not 12 , Will is a 14, not 15, Caleb is a midfielder not a wing...I live in hope one day they stop trying to put square pegs in round holes.

J
JW 209 days ago

The emperor has spoken.

B
B 209 days ago

If you're unfamiliar with the term "sugar coating"... this press report from Rassie Erasmus is a prime example of how to cover your butt in case the result doesn't go his way...anyhoo..there were two positive mind game results Scott Robertson had over Rassie...(1) making him name his team on Thursday..(2) not revealing the injured Caleb Clarke and Ethan Blackadder...Go the AB's...let the TRC go...just reload, and focus on the game plan to retain the Freedom Cup...

H
Hellhound 208 days ago

Dreams is bubbles, they always burst. Don't make statements that won't age well

C
CR 209 days ago

I don’t see how hiding the fact that Blackadder and Clarke isn’t playing is a win 😂

E
Ed the Duck 209 days ago

With trash talk between fans, that occasionally includes rugby journo’s and even the coaches can be tempted with their mind games. So people can sometimes get the wrong end of the stick about this rivalry. But the respect at the core between the two teams, players and coaches, is genuine and very much real. A testament to all that is great about the game.

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Tom 48 minutes ago
No definites, but which Wales players could still make Lions squad?

Williams, Faletau, Lake, Morgan are the only ones who have a chance. None of them are guaranteed but I'd imagine they'll pick Williams and Morgan who could get in on merit and will likely be favoured for inclusivity.


Williams is fighting it out with Ben White for 3rd slot behind JGP and Mitchell.

Morgan is up against JVDF, Earl, Curry, Curry, Willis for 4 flanker slots. Morgan is a fantastic player but a huge call to leave any of those boys at home given how much Wales struggled at the breakdown against England. He's by no means solely responsible for that but it will be fresh in the minds of the selectors. Given the amount of hybrid players emerging and the inclination for a 6-2 split, they may be able to find room for a 5th flanker in the squad. In which case may be Ben Curry who misses out or Willis might be excluded given we have such depth in the players who have chosen to play for clubs this side of the channel.


Lake and Faletau are good enough but I'd be surprised if Faletau gets picked over Conan and Lake would be up against Cowan-Dickie which I can't see happening. Blair Murray is probably 4th in the 15 pecking order behind Kinghorn, Heenan, Marcus Smith. He may be a better 15 than Smith but Smith brings versatility so would be ahead of him. Since Smith may go on tour as a 10/15 hybrid, they would already have 3 fullbacks in the squad so Murray won't make it, good player though.


Nicky Smith and Dafydd Jenkins clutching at straws.

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