New Zealand presses World Rugby on Springboks scrum tactics ahead of 2nd test

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — New Zealand is hoping its grumbles to World Rugby about South Africa’s scrummaging last weekend will give it more hope in the set-piece this weekend in the second test.

The scrum was a potent penalty-earning weapon for the Springboks last Saturday at Ellis Park until the 56th minute, when the All Blacks forced a defensive scrum penalty in front of their posts for South Africa wheeling. New Zealand quickly turned a three-point lead into 10 and went on to shockingly win 33-16.

New Zealand coach Dave Rennie said on Thursday they brought up scrum issues with World Rugby and hopes they filter to Australian referee Angus Gardner for the match on Saturday at Cape Town Stadium.

“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.”

Tighthead prop Thomas du Toit, brought in to replace Zach Porthen in the Springboks reserves, said on Thursday there were two sides to what happened.

“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.

“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.”

Another win by the All Blacks on Saturday would ensure them of at least a share of the spoils in the four-test series.

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.

The All Blacks experienced reprisal from South Africa last September, when a narrow 24-17 win at Eden Park was overturned a week later after the Springboks dealt New Zealand its heaviest ever defeat by 43-10 in Wellington.

“The Springboks at their best are tough to beat anywhere,” Rennie said.

“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.”

Rennie made three changes to his starting XV, 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.

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.

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.

“Leroy is a better defender, I think that will be important,” Rennie said.

Into the reserves came prop Xavier Numia and lock Patrick Tuipulotu, who captained New Zealand on Tuesday in the 41-35 win over the Lions. Gardner refereed that match and on Thursday replaced Nika Amashukeli for this Saturday’s game after Amashukeli became ill. Amashukeli will control the third test next week.

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.

“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.”

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.”

South Africa named its team on Monday and restored captain Siya Kolisi after a hamstring injury among four changes to the run-on side. It will be the most experienced South Africa test side ever with 1,012 caps.

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New Zealand: Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Leroy Carter, Ruben Love, Cam Roigard; Ardie Savea (captain), Luke Jacobson, Simon Paker, Tupou Vaa’i, Fabian Holland, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, George Bower. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby.

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