Rennie says All Blacks must empty tank at Springboks’ Ellis Park

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie says his players will need to give everything at Ellis Park when they face the Springboks, with the Johannesburg venue presenting one of the biggest tests of his tenure. He described the stadium as a special place for South African rugby and said New Zealand understands the scale of the occasion.

Rennie expects the contest to be dominated by physical exchanges rather than an open game. He believes South Africa will make extensive use of attacking kicks and high balls, making New Zealand’s ability to deal with that pressure a key part of its plan. Handling the aerial contest cleanly could create chances for the All Blacks to attack.

The New Zealand coach said finalising his team was particularly difficult because of the form available across the squad. The second-row selection created the most debate, with Josh Lord and Fabian Holland eventually earning places after strong performances from the locking group.

Rennie also highlighted the emergence of winger Josh Moorby. He pointed to the player’s calm decision-making, broad skill set and willingness to make repeated efforts as the qualities that have moved him into contention.

The coach dismissed suggestions that footage showing questionable breakdown technique was being used for gamesmanship. He said both teams had exchanged clips outlining concerns, but questioned why the issue was being discussed publicly and indicated that New Zealand would not release its own material.

South Africa will play at home as the reigning world champions in front of a sold-out crowd, but Rennie rejected the idea of trying to increase the pressure on the Springboks. He said the hosts would be eager to perform in those conditions, while his own players were equally enthusiastic about the challenge.

Rennie also drew a comparison with the effort required from New Zealand’s 1996 touring side. His message was that the All Blacks will have to sustain their work through a demanding encounter if they are to leave Ellis Park with the result.