BATTLE LINES: Talking time over as Boks and All Blacks reveal powerful lineups for first Test

{JSON.stringify(article.attachments[0], null, 2)} --> Springbok centre Damian de Allende will become South Africa’s 10th Test centurion against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus admitted he was nervous for Saturday’s first Test against the All Blacks. He looked nervous compared with earlier in the week when he defended the Boks’ tactics after the All Blacks’ “slowing the game” jibe.

Sitting next to Jaco Peyper on Monday, Erasmus had that mischievous glint in his eye and smiled his way through jousting with the media.

On Thursday, when revealing a familiar, strong team, which included centre Damian de Allende, who will play his 100th Test, and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Erasmus was far less relaxed.

The scale of the challenge is monumental and although both teams had known it was coming, now that the preparation is done and the teams revealed, there isn’t much else to do but pre-play the game over and over, waiting for 5:10pm on Saturday.

At the unveiling of his team to face the All Blacks at Ellis Park, Erasmus said neither he nor New Zealand counterpart Dave Rennie could confidently predict a winner.

For much of the 105-year rivalry, it has been the case. In 110 clashes, the Boks have 43 wins and the All Blacks 63, with four draws.

Even with a superior win rate in the match-up, the All Blacks still only boast a 57% winning ratio against the Boks compared with their historic 76% winning ratio across all Tests.

In South Africa, that drops to a respectable 46% with 25 wins in 54 Tests. At Ellis Park, the All Blacks’ winning ratio against the Boks is 37.5% with six wins in 16 Tests.

Those are impressive stats and way better than any other nation. But they are hardly odds that you’d bet your house on – hence Erasmus’ nerves.

“For me personally, this is one of the most enjoyable and nerve-wracking games,” Erasmus said.

“As I’m sitting here, I’m nervous. I’m not going to pretend I’m not. The team is nervous. I guess the supporters are nervous. But I’m pretty sure it’s the same on the other side too.”

If Erasmus needs anything to calm his nerves, he can look at the experience he has built over the years – a combined 850 Test caps in the starting lineup, and 1,043 in total.

The All Blacks have 684 caps in the starting lineup and 879 in total. It’s an edge, and at this level any edge is significant.