Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus withheld his match-day squad until Thursday ahead of the Eden Park Test, a break from his recent habit of naming sides early in the week.
'A bit of the unknown' - Boks coach wary of All Blacks' analysis
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus withheld his match-day squad until Thursday ahead of the Eden Park Test, a break from his recent habit of naming sides early in the week.
Erasmus said the delay would give All Blacks counterpart Scott Robertson less time to work through the detail, citing what he called a bit of an unknown in how the visitors would set up. Coming from a coach who has made media positioning part of his repertoire, the move was read as much as gamesmanship as genuine indecision.
He also assumed Caleb Clarke would feature for New Zealand, an indication that South Africa's planning had already priced in the likely home selections.
With both squads carrying injury disruption from a long Rugby Championship, the late naming added another layer of uncertainty to a fixture where preparation detail usually decides the tight moments.
Greyhound Racing New Zealand chief executive Edward Rennell says the sport is facing a sobering final week, as New Zealand prepares to end commercial greyhound racing from Saturday.
Karin Burger and the Silver Ferns have passed their first major Commonwealth Games test in Glasgow, beating Jamaica 53-48 and ending a difficult run against the Sunshine Girls.
All Blacks assistant coach Tana Umaga says Ireland will arrive at Eden Park without fear next Saturday, putting New Zealand's long unbeaten run at the ground under a sharper spotlight.