Peter Lakai goes into Saturday's Ellis Park Test under no illusions — conversations with All Blacks veterans who've faced the Boks in Johannesburg have left him clear-eyed about what's coming. He's flagging Bok set-piece dominance as the defining battleground and framing the Springboks as the forward benchmark of the past few years. With Ardie Savea back and a crowded loosie department competing for spots, Lakai is using the tour games to build rhythm and stake his claim. For Springbok supporters, this is a useful read on how the All Blacks are mentally framing the opener — and on whether their scrum improvements over the past fortnight are enough to trouble the Bok front row.
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Lakai braced for Ellis Park baptism as All Blacks take Bok benchmark seriously
Lakai has been picking the brains of All Blacks veterans ahead of his first crack at the Boks at Ellis Park, flagging set-piece dominance as the key battleground. Worth a read for insight into how the All Blacks are sizing up Saturday's opener.
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