Die Springbokke speel met vuur according to New Zealand coach Steve Hansen.
The Kiwi boss believes his South Africa counterpart Rassie Erasmus vat kanse on defence ahead of their World Cup opener in Japan on Saturday.
Hansen explains: “Their defensive system has changed a lot. They roll the dice big time.
“Their wingers come in off their wings – that’s what rolling the dice is.
“And they’re good at it. Very, very good at it.
“You want them to roll a couple of ones, rather than a pair of sixes.
HUGE RISKS: Rassie Erasmus. Photo: Paul Childs/Reuters.
“If there’s one thing I do know, South Africa will give us opportunities because they roll the dice. Are we good enough to take them? Will the weather allow us to take them? We’ll have to wait and see.”
With Italy, Namibia and Canada the other teams in Pool B, regardless Saturday’s result New Zealand and South Africa expect to continue their records of qualifying for the quarterfinals at every World Cup in which they have featured.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/AllBlacks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AllBlacksin style! pic.twitter.com/OIEYFLB333
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup)
Hansen adds: “Logic will tell you whoever wins this game, probably wins the pool.
“But as we found it in 2011, you don’t have to necessarily win the pool to get into the final. France did it the other way.
“It’s not the end of the world [if you lose], and it doesn’t mean you are going to win the World Cup or get into the final because you win this game.”