The back-to-back World Champions will be eager to bounce back after their 24-17 defeat at Eden Park in Auckland. Reviewing the post-match footage, it was clear the Kiwis used illegal tactics on several occasions, which went unnoticed by the match officials, especially towards the end of the Test as the Boks pushed for a draw.

This week brings a new Test with new challenges and several different players in the Bok line-up. Damian Willemse will start at inside centre for the first time in a Test, while former Toyota Cheetahs hooker Marnus van der Merwe will face the All Blacks for the first time.

Damian Willemse. Photo: Johan Orton

Willemse, one of the most experienced backs in the squad for the weekend, said the team must make the most of scoring opportunities – something they struggled with in Auckland.

“We expect, obviously, a very physical rugby game. 

“That’s always what you can expect from the All Blacks, and I think it’s going to be a Test match decided by small margins.”

“Last week, we had an opportunity to draw the game, and it was a small margin at the end to nail it down, which we didn’t manage.

“It’s going to be another big and epic Test – South Africa versus the All Blacks, number one versus number two in the world. So yeah, it’s going to be epic, and we can expect everything.”

Sporting a new and fresh haircut, Van der Merwe, who will be playing in just his third Test, said the team has analysed what didn’t work and, while they noted the All Blacks’ indiscretions, their focus is on correcting their own mistakes rather than dwelling on the opposition.

Marnus van der Merwe. Photo: Facebook

“We looked at the video and saw where we went wrong. The All Blacks played their tricks very well, which they did,” said Van der Merwe.

“So we’ve planned how to stop it and force them to make more errors. It’s about going back to the old tactics and seeing where we can stop them. We’ll just go and play the game.”

Saturday’s Test at the Cake Tin in Te Whanganui-a-Tara will kick off at 9:05

All Blacks – 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ethan de Groot

Replacements –16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Ruben Love

Springboks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nché

Replacements – 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 André Esterhuizen

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg/mvh