Here, Mike Greenaway looks at five key match-ups between the Springboks and the All Blacks.
Willie le Roux v Will Jordan
The 35-year-old veteran will not go to the next World Cup and Rassie Erasmus has said that his role is to nurture incoming talent while helping the team to win games. Rassie has publicly committed to getting Le Roux to 100 caps provided he continues to deliver at the highest level. He is on 97 and he is up against another veteran in Jordan. The All Black selection at fullback has raised eyebrows because it has meant the benching of golden boy Beauden Barrett. Both Le Roux and Jordan know that time is running out for them to show they are still the best.
Handré Pollard v Damian McKenzie
Pollard will be 33 at the next World Cup. That makes him a relative spring chicken when you consider that Johnny Sexton was 37 for Ireland last year in France. But whether Pollard will be the starting 10 ahead of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu depends hugely on whether he can impress when he is given opportunities to start. Pollard has watched Sacha star in three consecutive starts and the pressure is on him to deliver. McKenzie continues to carry the “Richie Mo’unga” monkey on his back. And this will continue until he delivers a match-winning performance against the best teams in the world.
Grant Williams v Cortez Ratima
The All Black scrumhalf has a first name borrowed from his father’s love of the Nike Cortez running shoe. That gives the 23-year-old big shoes to fill, and that is before we mention recently-retired great Aaron Smith. The All Blacks recalled TJ Perenara for the past few games but his appalling haircut served to illustrate his unimpressive displays. This gives Ratima a big shot at impressing. Opposite him is arguably the most consistent Springbok of the year. Williams has a rare chance to start and he will hope to seize it with the ease with which he throws try-making dummies.
Siya Kolisi v Sam Cane
Erasmus delayed his team announcement from the usual Tuesday slot to allow time for Kolisi to prove his cheekbone injury was more of a bump than a fracture. That is how important captain Kolisi is to the Springbok cause. He is Mr Inspiration and here is the funny thing … it was none other than Cane who went in too high in a challenge and his head smacked Kolisi on the cheekbone. The snoozing TMOs missed it and had they been awake, Cane would have suffered the same fate that he did in the World Cup final. But the red was saved for the faces of the officials and Cane lives to tackle high on another day.
Eben Etzebeth v Scott Barrett
The Springbok pack marches to Etzebeth’s drum beat. He is the embodiment of Springbok rugby. This week, he won his 126th cap and closed in on Victor Matfield’s record of 127. There is a clip from last week’s match at Ellis Park where Ardie Savea surges towards the tryline but is caught by Etzebeth in mid-dive and manhandled back over the tryline. Opposite Etzebeth tomorrow is the new All Black captain. The elder Barrett brother has to lead the way for his team but it’s not that easy when Eben the Angry stands tall in your path.