All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has declared that the four-test series against South Africa will be "a lot tougher than a Rugby World Cup", citing the relentless quality of opposition across all four matches as the key differentiator from the tournament format.
Speaking to reporters in Johannesburg ahead of Saturday's first test at Ellis Park, Rennie acknowledged the series arrives at a critical juncture for both sides. "Both teams will be about a year out from the World Cup when this series finishes, so we will certainly learn a lot," he said.
The Springboks head into the opener on a 12-test winning streak, and Rennie has few illusions about what awaits his side. "They will see the scrum as a strength. They force back-to-back penalties and put you in a corner. Then they are the best in the world at turning that pressure into points. Our discipline will be really important, our accuracy will be really important, and our set pieces will be massive."
His formula for winning the series is equally candid: New Zealand must play at their best while forcing the Springboks to perform below theirs.
Rennie defended the value of the three warm-up wins over South African franchises — 38-21 against the Stormers, 54 points against the Sharks and 50 against the Bulls — despite criticism that the opposition was depleted and undercooked. All but three tourists have had game time, and the coach says the depth picture has sharpened considerably. "There have been some genuinely high quality performances from individuals and that has put a lot of selection pressure on us. When we name our side for the first test we are going to leave out some really good players. Over four tests, we could use up to 30 players."
The series schedule: Ellis Park, Johannesburg (23 August), Cape Town (29 August), Soccer City, Johannesburg (5 September) and Baltimore (12 September). The two sides could meet again at the World Cup quarterfinal stage in Australia in 2027, three years on from their 12-11 final in Paris.