Dave Rennie has put his players on notice that Saturday night’s 50-19 win over the Vodacom Bulls was little more than a dress rehearsal for the step up against the Springboks. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.
The All Blacks coach declared the intensity of Test rugby will dwarf anything served up on tour.
“We know that the intensity level, the quality that we’re going to come up against next week is, you know, three, four, fivefold,” Rennie said. “We’ve played reasonably well on tour and we know we need to up the ante.”
REPORT: All Blacks bamboozle Bulls
Rennie was encouraged by patches of his side’s performance against the Bulls, particularly the way his players forced home defenders into difficult decisions under pressure.
“It was almost like we were training for the Springboks, you were coming a lot harder defensively,” he said. “Look, it’s good for us. We’ve now got a game at altitude, guys have got an appreciation for that. I thought we worked really hard in those circumstances and will be better for it.”
On selection, Rennie confirmed a number of positions remain up for grabs, with Saturday night’s performance carrying real weight.
“We’ve got a plan around selection, and there were a handful of positions there that were going to be decided based on tonight’s performance.”
FIRST TAKE: All Blacks show class, Bulls fall into pace trap
There was also positive news on the injury front.
Rennie said Will Jordan and Cam Roigard are both tracking well and expected to be available for the first Test at Ellis Park next Saturday, while Damian McKenzie is a slightly greater doubt but still considered “a good chance” once training resumes.
Richie Mo’unga, meanwhile, has rejoined the group after arriving late on Friday night, though Rennie ruled him out of Test selection this week, earmarking a return through the midweek fixture against the Lions instead.
ALSO: Refreshed Boks ready to knock out All Blacks
Captain Codie Taylor, speaking briefly after coming off at half-time, echoed his coach’s focus on composure under pressure, an area he expects to be tested repeatedly against the world champions.
“There’s going to be a lot of that in the Tests,” Taylor said, pointing to moments when the Bulls had the All Blacks pinned in their own half.
“For us to be able to galvanise as a group in those moments, hopefully that pays dividends when it comes to the Test footy.”
With the countdown now at seven days, Rennie’s message is clear: the platform has been built, but Ellis Park will demand considerably more.
Photo: Johan Orton/Gallo Images
The post Rennie: Boks will raise intensity fivefold appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Dave Rennie has put his players on notice that Saturday night’s 50-19 win over the Vodacom Bulls was little more than a dress rehearsal for the step up against the Springboks.
The post Rennie: Boks will raise intensity fivefold appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
