All Blacks prepare for Bulls physical threat and tactical kicking

All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown has warned his teammates to prepare for a physical encounter and tactical kicking from the Vodacom Bulls this Saturday. The veteran player identified Willie le Roux and Curwin Bosch as the primary threats in the Bulls' backline ahead of the third match in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.

Lienert-Brown highlighted the experience of le Roux, noting his ability to lead the backline through smart play, passing, and kicking. He also pointed to the long-range kicking capabilities of Bosch as a factor that will require the New Zealand side to remain highly focused on finding kicking space.

The 90-Test veteran noted that while South African clubs have evolved their game plans since the 2020 Super Rugby split, the physical nature of their forward packs remains a constant. He observed that South African teams possess the depth to switch between expansive rugby and a reliance on the set-piece and kicking depending on the match situation.

Having made his Super Rugby debut in Pretoria as an 18-year-old winger, Lienert-Brown is using his experience of playing at altitude to assist teammates unfamiliar with the Highveld. He stated that the team does not view the altitude as an excuse for their performance.

Regarding the squad depth for the New Zealand tour, Lienert-Brown welcomed the expected arrival of Richie Mo’unga. He described the addition of the playmaker as a positive development for the group, noting the high quality available across multiple positions in the squad.