Change is coming to the All Blacks this week, with the pack almost certainly set to include new personnel for a Test in Soweto that has an all-or-nothing feel.
A crowd of 90,000 is expected at FNB Stadium for the match on Sunday morning NZT which will decide the South African series.
There is a bolted-on money-making Test in Baltimore a week later, but the winner of the next one will likely claim the series victory no matter what happens in the United States.
The Springboks will again be favourites on Sunday after their 33-26 victory over the All Blacks in Cape Town yesterday but there will be a sense in the visiting camp that they took South Africa’s best shot and still outscored them four tries to three despite not making the most of their opportunities.
The All Blacks are staying in Cape Town for the early part of the week before flying to Johannesburg and feel only minor tweaks are necessary in response to their setback.
It is difficult to see the backline changing much, provided right wing Will Jordan, who struggled with a neck issue yesterday, is passed fit.
Leroy Carter, a surprise selection on the left wing, was one of the All Blacks’ best at DHL Stadium so is unlikely to be shifted and while Ruben Love endured the most challenging Test of his career, he is likely to retain the No.10 jersey.
The forwards will probably be freshened up, however, and will receive a big boost if prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord are cleared. Both missed the latest Test due to concussion injuries suffered in the first Test victory in Johannesburg, with de Groot also carrying a knee issue.
Lord’s inclusion will assist his team’s lineout – a problem yesterday – with lock Tupou Vaa’i likely to move back to blindside flanker.
Openside flanker Peter Lakai is potentially the big mover this week as he could come in for Luke Jacobson, who has worn the No.7 jersey in the first and second Tests.
Lakai provided plenty of impact when entering the game off the bench yesterday and the same applies to hooker Asafo Aumua, who must be pushing Codie Taylor close for a start.
Lock Fabian Holland has played big minutes in both Tests but has quickly proven to be a crucial part of the All Blacks’ pack and the selectors will be reluctant to remove him.
“We’ll have a look at some players who have played two 80s in a row. There could be an opportunity to change and get some fresh legs on,” scrum coach Jason Ryan said.
“Luke Jacobson had a bit of flu last night and Peter Lakai came on and was exceptional. All those sorts of things add to how you can shift momentum and be fresh.
“This tour has brought competition in this squad right across the park. It’s pretty exciting. That’s the way you want it. There’s been good trainings that have had a bit of edge.
“The selectors have a tough job this week, which is good.”
The mid-week matches provided excellent preparation for the first Test and gave the All Blacks an early advantage over the Boks, but Ryan and his fellow coaches will be pleased to focus only on the two remaining Tests now.
“This week coming is going to be big,” Ryan said. “A World Cup is a World Cup but this one at this ground – 90-plus thousand – it’s going to be up there.”
The All Blacks have won both their previous two Tests at FNB Stadium – a 32-16 victory in 2012 and a 29-22 win two years prior. The latter attracted a crowd of more than 94,000.
As the team’s scrum expert, Ryan would have taken a keen interest in the comments of Boks coach Rassie Erasmus yesterday in stridently claiming his team do not use illegal tactics in the set piece.
Of his South African rival’s outburst, Ryan said: “It’s a bit of friendly fire, isn’t it? There’s been some interesting comments made in the media but that’s the pressure of Test footy and that’s what it’s about in a way.”
And he maintained the All Blacks were following World Rugby’s direction in scrummaging “square”.
“The direction World Rugby want is really clear – you’ve got to scrum square and not step left,” he said. “That’s what we’ve been working on. We’ve had some rewards for that, and some we haven’t. We’ll keep focusing on what we need to do to keep square.
“We’ve got to concentrate on what we need to get better on. Second Tests are always that little bit harder. Everyone knows that bit more about each other. They probably found out a couple more things about us and got the right end of the score.”
Another major talking point from the second Test was the pre-match flyover by two passenger jets which shook DHL Stadium to its foundations.
Ryan said the low altitude of both planes took him by surprise, adding: “I don’t know if it’s a competition but that’s probably enough.”