Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and captain Siya Kolisi have both underlined the squad's resolve to level the Castle Double Malt Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series when the Boks host New Zealand in Cape Town on Saturday.
Stick identified missed opportunities as the decisive factor in last week's defeat, pointing out that the Boks created enough chances to win but failed to take them. "The All Blacks didn't have many opportunities, but they took their chances when they came," he said. "If we create as many opportunities as we did last week, one of the main things we need to do is convert more of them."
Handré Pollard has been ruled out of the match after picking up a niggle during Wednesday's training session. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts at flyhalf in his place, with Manie Libbok named on the bench. Cheslin Kolbe comes into the starting XV following his recovery from the knock he sustained last week, with Kurt-Lee Arendse dropping out of the squad as a result. Stick explained that Kolbe trained fully on Monday — the threshold the team requires for selection consideration — and came through the week without issue.
Kolisi, who missed the Argentina Test in Buenos Aires with a strain, was cleared fit on Monday and named captain. "I feel good and strong — the toughest part was more the mental battle," he said. The Bok skipper drew on the squad's experience of high-stakes series comebacks, referencing the British & Irish Lions series and the Rugby World Cup as reference points for managing the pressure of must-win occasions.