If the All Blacks can avoid the Springboks’ last-quarter “trap”, they will have a good chance of emerging victorious in Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash at Cape Town Stadium (5pm start).
That was the view of New Zealand blindside flank Ethan Blackadder after the Kiwis let a 27-17 lead slip at Ellis Park last weekend to go down 31-27.
The All Blacks were much more efficient and accurate for the first hour in Johannesburg in comparison to the South Africans, who had a high error rate and were affected by a few injuries too.
But the Bok Bomb Squad did the business once more in the second half to snatch victory with late tries by Kwagga Smith and Grant Williams.
“We started the game well, and then let the Springboks come in at certain times. Whether it was through errors or discipline, they got back into the game and got down in our half,” Blackadder said this week.
“So for us, I think it’s nullifying that, being squeaky clean to not let them play the way they want to … We fell into the trap – whether it was (due to a lack of) discipline or an error – that’s how they got back into the game.
“Rugby is a simple game and if you nullify that the team can’t come back. We just needed to play what was in front of us and then keep playing footy – that was the key.”
Blackadder said that he was awaiting a few tips from his father, former All Black and Crusaders lock Todd, who is “chipping away in Japan” as the coach of Toshiba, and was enjoying the support from Capetonians, who even welcomed the Kiwis at the airport on Sunday.
But he knows that Scott Robertson’s All Black team will have to get the business done on the pitch this weekend.
“Yeah, real cool. I’ve heard, before I started playing footy, that the support in Cape Town especially is huge. It’s pretty cool to see 50, 100 fans screaming and supporting us. Makes it feel like home, doesn’t it? We appreciate the support worldwide and love it,” the 29-year-old Crusaders stalwart said.
“I have, back in 2019 for the Crusaders, and the support was huge then – and I imagine it is going to be bigger.
“Playing at sea level might be a difference, but it doesn’t change anything. I think the breakdown is going to be an important aspect. So, the guys getting over the ball ... that will go a long way.
Great to watch the @AllBlacks training at the home of SARU non-racial rugby during the 1970s and 1980s, Athlone Stadium, ahead of Saturday's Test against the @Springboks at Cape Town Stadium 🏉@CapeTimesSA @TheCapeArgus #AllBlacks #Springboks #RSAvNZL #RugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/PNhyeC2TgO
— Ashfak Mohamed (@ashfakmohamed) September 3, 2024
“And then just finishing what we start. Two simple things, but I think it will go a long way. We are disappointed and gutted that we couldn’t finish the job. But equally, we had a lot of fun out there and we are excited for Saturday.
“We are just focusing on a few small margins, and (it’s) just about finishing the game – that was evident.
“We couldn’t quite close it out the way we wanted to, and that’s what we’re striving to do: finish the job … I think we are actually more excited because we know that we were close in that game.
“So, the motivation’s high to get it right this weekend.”