In MbombelaNo Test match, especially that of the magnitude of the Springboks and All Blacks, will be completed without a set of tasty match-ups.Here are five individual and collective contests that will shape the direction of Saturday's Test in Mbombela: The front rowsThis is one battle that is difficult to individualise, and set-pieces are battles within battles.
Trevor Nyakane, Malcolm Marx, and Frans Malherbe should have the edge over George Bower, Samisoni Taukei'aho, and Angus Ta'avao, but the All Blacks have always found ways to stay alive when their scrums are creaky.This is an area the Boks will want to exploit, especially if the Lowveld Heat that finally descended on Mbombela on Friday turns things up a notch and brings the humidity that'll make handling tricky.Dane Coles, Tyrel Lomax, and Ethan de Groot could make life uncomfortable for Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, and Bongi Mbonambi off the bench.The Boks need to make sure they dominate this area and once the All Blacks are on the back foot here, life will be tough for Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett.Eben Etzebeth/Lood de Jager v Scott Barrett/Sam WhitelockThe tall timber battle could have massive implications from a maul perspective.
The maul is where New Zealand were tossed and turned like a steak by Ireland, and the All Blacks are without their prime maul-stopper Brodie Retallick.New Zealand's lineout was also picked apart by the Irish, a meltdown that ultimately led to the dismissal of John Plumtree.The Boks also have Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese, Salmaan Moerat and Franco Mostert as the other lineout options.That sends out a statement as to what the Boks intend to do with the All Blacks at lineout for the entire game.Jasper Wiese v Ardie SaveaArd