All Blacks great: The notable ‘messaging’ from Dave Rennie as they prepare to face Springboks ‘juggernaut’
Bulls taking on New Zealand in tour game and All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie.
The All Blacks realise that they have to be “perfect” if they are to overcome the Springboks in their four-Test Greatest Rivalry series.
That is according to former scrum-half Justin Marshall, who believes that Dave Rennie is not entirely happy with their level of performance.
New Zealand have improved over the course of the three games, defeating the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls ahead of their opening match with South Africa.
All Blacks still need improvement
There is plenty to like about what the All Blacks have produced, particularly in the latter two victories, but Marshall insists that they still need to be much better.
“What I noticed post-game and then when I reflected on it and thought about their performance, was the messaging coming out of the All Black camp,” he said on The Breakdown.
“Talking to Dave Rennie, he was satisfied but by no means happy because there were still errors, there were still areas he was concerned about.
“I talked to [All Blacks coach] Tamati Ellison as well off camera and he felt the same way. I think there’s this realisation from the All Blacks that against this juggernaut that is the Springboks, they have to be perfect.
“They have to be white as white, they have to be so very clinical in all areas. The platform needs to be immaculate. If you don’t get platform and parity, you’re on the back foot.
“All those elements within their performances, they know that they’re there, they know where they want to get to, but they’re still working towards it.
“There’s no overconfidence there, so they are aware of the task ahead of them at Ellis Park.”
Ellis Park ‘a beast’
The series begins with a clash at that iconic ground, which is seen as one of the most difficult places for visiting teams to come.
Marshall is not surprised that South Africa have chosen it as the venue for the first game. The 53-year-old knows that the Boks players will be inspired by the surroundings but he hopes that it does the same for the All Blacks.
“Ellis Park is a beast. You know you’re in a hostile environment, an environment where it’s basically the heart and soul of Springbok rugby – it’s their Eden Park.
“There’s no rocket science that they’ve put the first Test match at Ellis Park because, if it’s possible, the Springboks grow a little bit taller and puff their chests out a little bit more. A lot of these All Blacks won’t have experienced that before.
“You’ve got to stay tight, you’ve got to galvanise. You know that 90 per cent of the crowd will be in support of the Springboks and it will be passionate support and the Springboks will be at their very best.
“But hey, boys, that’s why you put the boots on, that’s why you put the jersey on and when you walk down that tunnel, down that ramp and out onto Ellis Park into that environment and look around at that stadium, you go, ‘yeah, this is why I play for the All Blacks, this is what rugby’s all about’.
“If that can’t get you going and motivated to play the game, nothing ever will.”
