‘You go back to basics.’ What it takes to beat the All Blacks

Back-to-basics scrummaging, cohesion and role clarity are the Springboks’ blueprint as they face Dave Rennie’s All Blacks in a high-stakes first Test of an electrifying rivalry.

Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira played 116 Tests for the Springboks, including 20 against the All Blacks. He was part of two Rugby Championship-winning teams and won the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

I remember very clearly what a scrummaging week looked like before a massive Test match such as this weekend’s clash between the Springboks and All Blacks.

There is no need to invent something special. You focus on doing the simple things exceptionally well because, at this level, the difference is often made by the things that average teams overlook.

Tight binds within the pack are crucial. Everything must be in sync from the front to the back. Timing is everything. You want the locks coming in together, on cue, with the loose forwards following from the back at exactly the right moment.

You concentrate on keeping your weight on the balls of your feet and not destabilising the scrum before the hit. You travel together as a pack on the engage call and make sure you hit your target at the same time, without missing a beat.

The boys will go head-to-head in live scrums during the week and steadily increase the intensity until it feels as close to game day as possible.

And that is what Test rugby is about. It is often not the spectacular things that win you the game. It is the small things, repeated relentlessly and executed under pressure.

The players will be nervous. That is normal. But there will also be a quiet confidence within that Springbok camp. They know what they are capable of, but they will not be boasting about it publicly. That humility and belief is one of the great strengths of this Bok team.

Coach Rassie Erasmus must have had some serious headaches when it comes to selection.

Personally, I always appreciated knowing my role early enough before a big Test match. Some coaches leave team announcements quite late, but I believe certain players need that extra time to mentally settle into their role.

Knowing where you are playing, understanding your responsibilities and wrapping your head around the challenge ahead can make a huge difference.

The scene is certainly set for a spectacle this weekend when the old foes meet in the first Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.

Both teams have had a good build-up, playing several matches to test combinations, build confidence and shake off the rust of the past few months.