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What Rennie wants the most from the tour to South Africa and Springboks Test series
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The All Blacks have started the new era under Dave Rennie with three wins from as many Test matches, but the next challenge will be a step up in intensity when they take on the world number one Springboks at home.
Labelled The Greatest Rivalry Tour, the All Blacks will carry an extended squad to South Africa to play the four club franchises in exhibition games and three Tests against the Springboks, before a fourth Test in Baltimore in the United States.
Rennie called the Springboks a “different beast” after seeing them beat a strong Scotland side last weekend. Hours after the All Blacks 40-21 win over Ireland, the Springboks beat Wales 43-0.
“It’s a different beast, South Africa, aren’t they? They put a B side out last week that beat an excellent Scotland team,” Rennie said of the Springboks.
“I’m really excited. We’ve worked really hard. We’ve put a lot of detail into our game. The boys have really embraced it. I think we’ve got a really good balance of working hard but enjoying it and having fun.
“I think we’re in a good spot. It’d be nice to have a week off. Most of the guys have had big years, and then we’re into it for seven more weeks.”
Over the first three weeks the All Blacks have been tweaking a few selections to see what works in Rennie’s systems, most notably around the back row with the surprise elevation of Luke Jacobson to the No.7 jersey and the rotation at blindside.
In other areas such as the halves and fullback, there seems to be a consensus already around Cam Roigard, Ruben Love and Damian McKenzie as the spine.
Rennie revealed on the Sky Sport broadcast that the All Blacks “best team” will be selected for the first Test against Springboks. He believed that the South Africa tour will leave the All Blacks in a “better place” regardless of what happens and that is what excites him the most.
“We’ve done a lot of planning and detail around that. So we’ll go over there and give it our best shot,” he said.
“But the exciting thing, I reckon, we will come out of Africa, regardless of the results, in a much better place.
“We’ll know a lot more about the boys and and our game model, the detail within that, and we’ll be able to really hone in on our culture, and so it’s exciting.
“We’ve got a captured audience for seven weeks. We’ll make the most of that.”
The first Test will be at Ellis Park in Johannesburg before heading to Cape Town, before returning to Johannesburg to play at FNB Stadium, the home of the 2010 football World Cup.
The last Test match between the All Blacks and Springboks at FNB Stadium was in 2010, with a last-gasp try to fullback Israel Dagg securing a 29-22 win for the All Blacks.
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