Boks fit for a fight

The All Blacks’ superior conditioning was highlighted as the main reason the Springboks fell short against their old foe at Ellis Park last year but Heyneke Meyer’s team has reason to be a little more sanguine on that front ahead of Saturday’s clash.

Statistics of course can be finessed to suit a particular argument but the Springboks understandably are reaching for all the positives to which they can attach themselves to help break the All Blacks’ five-match winning streak over them, which stretches back to August 2011.

Earlier this season following his team’s win over Wales, Meyer beamed when he revealed that the ball had remained in play for a staggering 38 minutes of the first Test. It would appear his teams’ aerobic endurance is improving. “It was quite a game,” said team doctor Craig Roberts about last weekend’s win over Australia. “Almost 45 minutes ball in play which is incredible. Over 440 tackles (by both teams) made in the game,” he said about both sides’ lung-busting exploits.

The Springboks certainly kicked less than has been their wont but it is equally true that their ball in hand approach meant they also explored more blind alleys than usual at Newlands.

Overall, however, it represented a marked shift from their safety-first kicking approach in wet conditions in their most recent assignments in Perth and Wellington.

They will need to be more discerning against the All Blacks whose superior staying power in the second half greatly contributed to their victory at altitude last year.

With Meyer’s players, unless authorised otherwise, declared off-limits in the Currie Cup, the Springboks’ conditioning was always likely to improve this year. It is no coincidence that prop Trevor Nyakane shed more than 10kg since he reported for national duty in June.

If the Springboks are in slightly better shape than they were for the corresponding fixture a year ago, the All Blacks have to deviate from their pre- match template from last year.

They only arrived yesterday but according to flank Sam Cane the shorter turnaround time should not affect their performance. “It’s fine. We just have to put in more work in the first half of the week and the second half of the week will have to be the same as always.”

While the Springboks’ quest for a bonus point win dictated their exuberant approach last year, Cane believes they will be less ambitious this week. “They’ll be looking to win in whatever way they can,” said Cane.

While the Boks are still sweating on the availability of Duane Vermeulen and Bryan Habana, the All Blacks have some concerns over lock Brodie Retallick. He, too, received a blow to the head and his availability, like Habana’s will be subject to concussion test protocols.

Cane explained why he believes Vermeulen has become such a vital cog in the Springbok team.

“He has taken his game to another level. He has been massive at the breakdown for the Springboks. He is a big man but he gets low over the ball and is hard to move. We’ve seen what he can do as a ball carrier. He is a direct number eight with some good skills to go with it.”