Pieter-Steph du Toit will reach a significant milestone when he wins his 100th Test cap against New Zealand at the DHL Stadium on Saturday, as the Springboks attempt to salvage their Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series following last week's 33-16 defeat at Ellis Park.
The flanker, who has captained the side during Siya Kolisi's injury absence, was praised by scrumhalf Cobus Reinach for his leadership qualities. "Pieter-Steph playing his 100th is a huge milestone, and it shows what a type of player and person he is," Reinach said. "He's probably not the most vocal guy, but he leads in the way he plays."
Reinach acknowledged the All Blacks had executed their game plan effectively in Johannesburg, particularly at the breakdown. "They went after our breakdowns quite hard and tried to slow down the ball," he said. "We felt the pressure and we knew we had to get the ball out somehow, and we have to work out ways around it." The scrumhalf received a yellow card during the opening Test as South Africa struggled to cope with New Zealand's ruck pressure.
Kolisi returns to bolster leadership
The return of Kolisi, who replaces Paul de Villiers at openside flanker, provides the Springboks with additional experience in a side that will field its most-capped starting XV in history. The double World Cup-winning captain has been hampered by hamstring injuries throughout the season, missing all three Nations Championship fixtures and the Ellis Park defeat after lasting only 24 minutes of his comeback Test against Argentina.
Centre Jesse Kriel framed the series as knockout rugby, with three matches remaining to overturn the deficit. "We know we've got three more chances to perform the way we want to and play like the team we know we can be," Kriel said. "We know we weren't as accurate as we wanted to be in the first Test. We also know New Zealand played unbelievably well."
Forward platform must deliver points
Whilst the Springboks held scrum dominance in Johannesburg, prop Wilco Louw acknowledged the side failed to convert that advantage into scoreboard pressure. "The All Blacks played well, and it was a tough battle; they got a few rewards, and we got a few rewards," Louw said. The challenge for Saturday is translating set-piece superiority into points, with the series now hinging on three consecutive victories to claim the trophy.
Reinach insisted the defeat had provided valuable lessons. "The review after a loss is never good, but it's learnings, and as long as we take the lessons and grow as a team, we will be in a good place." With Du Toit's century and Kolisi's return providing twin focal points, the Springboks face a Cape Town assignment that will define their season.