All Blacks coach Robertson expecting 'fiery' clash with Springboks in Auckland

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson says the Springboks will return to their famed strengths against Australia on Saturday after running themselves into the ground at Ellis Park in a 38–22 loss to the Wallabies.

Robertson pointed out that the Boks’ adventurous approach opened them up to errors, allowing Australia back into the game after South Africa had raced to an early 22–0 lead.

Further, he is under no illusion about the style of play the Boks will adopt when they tackle the All Blacks in a much-anticipated Rugby Championship clash at Eden Park on 6 September.

Robertson told reporters that a “fiery” encounter is guaranteed when the Boks attempt to end the New Zealanders’ 31-year winning streak at the Auckland fortress. The Springboks have won just once at Eden Park — back in 1937 when Philip Nel’s team secured a series win at the ground.

Robertson, like his countryman Joe Schmidt, the Wallabies coach, said the scoreline was an exaggeration of the perceived Australian dominance.

“It was a game of a bounce of a ball and a pass and a couple of little moments,” Robertson said.

“South Africa played beautifully for a period of time, and then it just turned, didn’t it? And it just shows, like I have said before, with discipline and accuracy, you can force errors, and things can change quickly.”

Back in the late 1990s, Robertson and Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus opposed each other as openside flanks in a Tri-Nations game. They have had a mutual respect ever since.

Robertson feels that the loss at Ellis Park will direct Erasmus back to the Springbok DNA that has served them so well.

“Does it change the way we’re going to play the Boks? Look, we know how they’re going to play. They’re going to play to their strengths. They’ll go back to them. That is my opinion, anyway. It’s just their DNA. But it’s about how you stop them, while also playing your own game.”

The All Blacks beat Argentina last week and face them again on Saturday before the countdown to Eden Park begins.

“It’ll be a hell of a fiery Test,” the All Blacks coach smiled. “How good is Test footy? Everyone’s talking about it and there’s some great footy being played.”

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