Dave Rennie excepts Springboks innovation in first Test at Ellis Park
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie says he fully expects Rassie Erasmus to produce something new in the first Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the Springboks at Ellis Park on Saturday 22 August. Speaking in Johannesburg on Monday, Rennie said South Africa’s record as tactical innovators made a surprise almost certain, but that New Zealand would not spend the week guessing at what it might be.
Asked directly whether he was braced for tricks, Rennie was blunt.
“Oh, no doubt. No doubt. They’ve been big innovators in the game.”
He was equally clear that anticipating them is not the plan. “We’ve got a massive focus on us and what we need to do,” Rennie said, adding that his side were aware of where South Africa could hurt them without hunting for a specific ambush.
The metrics behind the Springboks’ pressure game
The more revealing part of the briefing was Rennie’s read on how the world champions actually win Tests. He pointed to a cluster of metrics in which he says South Africa top the global rankings: retaining their own high balls, the number of entries they make into an opponent’s 22, and the points they extract from each of those entries.
“They’re the best in the world at turning that pressure into points down there,” Rennie said.
That analysis shapes New Zealand’s plan. Rather than trying to out-muscle South Africa in the red zone, Rennie wants to reduce how often they get there at all — a job he framed as one of discipline and accuracy rather than defensive heroics.
“They’ve got a smart kicking game. They can trap you down there,” he said. “They’ve got a pressure game as well, and then they’ve got a big pack.”
Set piece, he said, would be “massive”, with discipline and accuracy the two levers that determine how many times the Springboks are handed a platform inside the 22 in the first place.
Not just a forward-dominated template
Rennie also pushed back on the idea that South Africa will simply revert to type because of the occasion. He accepted that a pressure game is a legitimate strength and that any side plays to its strengths, but noted the Springboks had shown in the past 12 months they can play expansively when they choose to. He expects the side named on Thursday to look different from the one that faced Argentina.
He also suspects Erasmus is dealing with the same problem he is. New Zealand have used all but three of their touring party across three tour matches, and Rennie said some genuinely good players will miss out when the 23 is named. He anticipates Erasmus has “positive selection headaches” of his own.
For all the tactical detail, Rennie framed the fixture as a measuring stick rather than a puzzle to solve. “We get an opportunity to measure up against the best in the world,” he said.
Dave Rennie and the Springboks series: your questions answered
Who is the All Blacks head coach in 2026?
Dave Rennie is the All Blacks head coach. He was appointed in March 2026 after New Zealand Rugby sacked Scott Robertson in January, and he works alongside selectors Sir Graham Henry and Neil Barnes. Rennie previously coached the Chiefs, Glasgow Warriors, Australia and Kobelco Kobe Steelers.
What has Rennie said about the Springboks’ tactics?
Rennie says he expects innovation from Rassie Erasmus, calling South Africa “big innovators in the game” and saying a surprise is a near certainty. He has also said New Zealand are not scanning for a specific ambush, and are instead focused on their own game.
Which metrics does Rennie say the Springboks lead the world in?
He named three: winning their own high ball back, the number of entries they make into the opposition 22, and the points they score per entry. Rennie’s conclusion is that South Africa are the best in the world at converting territorial pressure into points, so the priority is limiting how often they reach the red zone at all.
When is the first Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry?
South Africa host New Zealand at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday 22 August 2026, which falls early on Sunday morning in New Zealand time. It is the first of four Tests in the series, with three played in South Africa and the last on neutral ground in the United States.
Does Rennie think the series is harder than a World Cup?
Yes. Asked whether facing the Springboks four times in succession might be tougher than a World Cup, Rennie answered that it would be “a lot tougher”. He also noted both sides will be roughly a year out from the next World Cup by the time the series finishes.
Are Rennie and Erasmus meeting before the Test?
No. Rennie confirmed that a pre-Test meeting requires both coaches to agree, that Erasmus saw no need for one, and that he felt the same. The two camps exchanged views on four areas — including time wasting — by email instead.
