All Blacks coach Scott Robertson expects beaten South Africa to revert to ‘DNA’

WELLINGTON – New Zealand coach Scott Robertson says the All Blacks will not alter their approach to playing South Africa in light of the Springboks’ surprise capitulation to Australia at Ellis Park.

South Africa’s 38-22 loss at their Johannesburg stronghold on Aug 16 stunned the rugby world, while putting their Rugby Championship defence on shaky ground before a potentially decisive, two-Test tour of New Zealand in September.

The Springboks have tried to move to a more expansive, ball-in-hand game style, pivoting away from their usual strengths of physical dominance and tactical kicking – but Robertson suggested it may not last.

“No. We know how they’re going to play – they’ll play to their strengths,” he told reporters on Aug 19.

“It’s just their DNA. It’s about how you stop them, but also how you play your own game.”

After going 22-0 down, Australia ran in six unanswered tries to beat the hosts at Ellis Park for the first time in 62 years and trigger renewed optimism under coach Joe Schmidt.

Robertson, however, declined to conjure even faint praise for the Wallabies, saying that he was more focused on the All Blacks’ second Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

“It was a game of small moments – a bounce of the ball, a pass. South Africa played beautifully for a long period, and then it just turned, didn’t it?” he said.

“It shows how discipline, accuracy and limiting errors can change things quickly.

“I’ll turn the page when we get past this week and we’ll start talking about those teams.”

The All Blacks saw off an Argentina fightback to win 41-24 in Cordoba on Aug 16, despite a lack of cohesion in the back-line at times.

Rieko Ioane’s move to the wing and Billy Proctor’s promotion to starting No. 13 remain under the microscope, with neither dominating their positions.

Robertson defended both players, saying Ioane was getting better every week and calling for patience with five-Test Proctor.

“He’s a long-term project, and we’re sticking with him,” he said of Proctor.

Meanwhile, lock Patrick Tuipulotu and centre Anton Lienert-Brown have been ruled out of the second Test against Argentina at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani after suffering head knocks in the opener, Robertson confirmed.

Tuipulotu was taken to hospital and failed a head impact assessment, while Lienert-Brown had a late head-on-head clash with Santiago Chocobares, which earned the New Zealander a yellow card. REUTERS