All Blacks assistant coach Tana Umaga has described the Springboks as a side built on continuity and self-belief rather than reliance on outside factors. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.
Asked after training in Johannesburg on Tuesday whether the All Blacks’ warm-up matches against the Stormers, Sharks and Vodacom Bulls had given them an advantage in adapting to local conditions ahead of Saturday’s first Test at Ellis Park, Umaga dismissed the idea.
“This South African side’s been together for a long time,” he said, adding that their game plan is built on a foundation they trust completely. With 44 players having featured across New Zealand’s three matches so far on this tour, he suggested the rotation may have blunted any advantage they hoped to gain from extra game time.
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On what makes facing South Africa physically and tactically different from other southern hemisphere opposition, Umaga singled out the sheer size and relentlessness of the Springbok pack.
He described the challenge as facing “a relentless wave of a big bang coming at you,” noting the Boks have added genuine skill and subtlety to their backline play in recent years, meaning defences can’t simply focus on the forward battle. The danger now comes from both directions, testing a team’s ability to divide its attention without losing shape.
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Umaga also reflected on the fundamentals he believes matter most against the Springboks.
“Don’t give them entries into the areas that they want to get into,” he said, pointing to how that principle underpins South Africa’s ability to play to their strengths. He argued that quality ball retention and forward momentum ultimately dictate who comes away with the points.
On the injury front, there was a positive update on Damian McKenzie, who injured an ankle against the Sharks. Coaching staff confirmed the utility back trained on Tuesday and got through his session, with the medical and conditioning team taking every precaution to have him fit and available for the weekend. He has not been ruled out of the match.
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The rivalry carries extra personal weight for Umaga, who faced the Springboks 19 times as an All Black between 1997 and 2005, a run that gives him a rare, first-hand appreciation for what makes these encounters so fiercely contested on both sides of the great rivalry.
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
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All Blacks assistant coach Tana Umaga has described the Springboks as a side built on continuity and self-belief rather than reliance on outside factors.
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