A mobile pack of forwards will not give the All Blacks an edge over the Springboks in their World Cup opener on Saturday.
According to Springbok loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff, the weather conditions in the Land of the Rising Sun will actually benefit the Bok pack, who is much more focused on set pieces, more than their All Blacks counterparts.
Asked if the mobility of the New Zealanders’ pack is a threat to them on Saturday, Kitshoff says: “Even though we have big guys, we’re able to play good 60-80 minutes.
“Mobility-wise, you get guys like prop Trevor [Nyakane] that can make 22 tackles in a Test.
“It won’t have such a big impact – [with the humidity, you] can’t run that match. It will come down to a set piece battle.”
And that’s where Kitshoff believes the contest will be won.
HAD A SUPER SEASON TO DATE: All Black Nepo Laulala. Photo: Brett Phibbs/AP.
He says of the test the All Blacks will provide in this department: “They’ve got a good system when it comes to set piece and they can be quite dominant when it comes to scrums and force penalties when they need to.”
Kitshoff will in all likelihood line up opposite tighthead prop Nepo Laulala in the front-row shove.
Of the 27-year-old Chiefs tighthead prop, he says: “He’s had incredible Super Rugby season and he’s a good scrummager.
“New Zealand’s set piece has been functioning well.
“It’s going to be a good battle in all tight phases of the game.”