![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/the-all-blacks-and-springboks-during-the-first-test-E2JO2HO43NH7JNE67UXV4ZAVQU.jpg\")
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The All Blacks and Springboks during the first Test (Source: Sky)<\/p>\n
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie<\/a> said overnight they brought up scrum issues with World Rugby and hopes they filter to Australian referee Angus Gardner for the match on Sunday at Cape Town Stadium.<\/a><\/p>\n “The expectation is our scrum will be a lot better,” Rennie said. “We think if they’re forced to scrum square, not allowed to step sideways and walk around us, then we’ll be able to stay in front of that and be able to get footy going off that.”<\/p>\n New Zealand’s head coach Dave Rennie watches players warming up for a rugby match between Bulls and New Zealand, in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Source: Associated Press)<\/p>\n Tighthead prop Thomas du Toit, brought in to replace Zach Porthen in the Springboks reserves, said there were two sides to what happened.<\/p>\n “We try and stay within the laws of the game as much as we can and as much as we perceive it,” du Toit said. “In hindsight everything is easier to look at. Yes, you could probably make a case both ways.<\/p>\n “As far as what New Zealand are speaking to the refs about, we just try and focus on what we do well and hopefully get reward for it.”<\/p>\n Another win by the All Blacks would ensure them of at least a share of the spoils in the four-Test series.<\/p>\n But the main theme of this week’s buildup has been about a backlash from South Africa. It hasn’t lost two Tests in a row anywhere since November 2022, in Ireland then in France, and not at home since August 2015 against Argentina then New Zealand.<\/p>\n Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus speaks to the media after his team’s loss to the All Blacks at Ellis Park. (Source: Photosport)<\/p>\n The All Blacks experienced reprisal from South Africa last September, when a narrow 24-17 win <\/a>at Eden Park was overturned a week later after the Springboks dealt New Zealand its heaviest ever defeat <\/a>by 43-10 in Wellington.<\/p>\n “The Springboks at their best are tough to beat anywhere,” Rennie said.<\/p>\n “But we’ve talked a lot about us being better. We think we can be a lot better than we were last weekend and that’s the key. We’ve got to be able to lift our level. We know they’re going to be better but we don’t want to focus totally on what South Africa are going to bring. We want to focus on what we can bring.”<\/p>\n 1News\u2019 Andrew Saville is in Cape Town ahead of the huge second Test. (Source: Breakfast)<\/p>\n Rennie made three changes to his starting XV<\/a>, two enforced by concussions to prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord. Loosehead George Bower comes off the bench and Tupou Vaa’i moves from blindside flanker into the second row. Simon Parker replaces Vaa’i.<\/p>\n Vaa’i was effective roaming on the edges last weekend and Rennie believed he can continue that despite playing lock while Parker threw his weight around up the middle.<\/p>\n In the only backline change, Leroy Carter replaces Josh Moorby on the left wing in a straight swap from the reserves. Carter will be marking Kurt-Lee Arendse.<\/p>\n New Zealand’s Leroy Carter runs with the ball during a rugby match between Bulls and New Zealand, in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Source: Associated Press)<\/p>\n “Leroy is a better defender, I think that will be important,” Rennie said.<\/p>\n Into the reserves came prop Xavier Numia and lock Patrick Tuipulotu, who captained the All Blacks in the 41-35 win over the Lions<\/a>. Gardner refereed that match and today replaced Nika Amashukeli for this Sunday’s game after Amashukeli became ill. Amashukeli will control the third Test next week.<\/p>\n Ethan Blackadder after the Lions played the All Blacks (Source: Photosport)<\/p>\n Rennie doesn’t think South Africa will veer much from its Ellis Park game plan as it dominated the first hour but didn’t finish chances.<\/p>\n “I think they’ll just try and do what they did last week but try and do it better,” he said. “The mindset will be attack us at set-piece, put more ball in the air, get a big wall in front of us and try and spend as much time in our 22 as they can.”<\/p>\n Asked what the biggest mistake the All Blacks could make, Rennie said, “This is not going to happen, but us thinking what we did last week is going to be enough to win this week. We’re going to have to go deeper this week.”<\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/new-zealands-head-coach-dave-rennie-watches-players-warming-LLGJ5IRJNZASJBKYO4DHPM3CUU.jpg\")
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