Defence a constant work-on for Boks – Arendse

Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse said the Boks were determined to improve and build on their performance last week as they prepare to face the All Blacks in the third Test of the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.

The Springboks won the second Test by 33-26, although the All Blacks scored four tries to three and Arendse said that the team have been working hard on their defence and that they would be up for this match mentally and physically.

“We know the All Blacks are good at finding the wide channels and we’ve put things in place to counter that,” said Arendse.

“In the first Test we focused too much on them instead of ourselves but this this time our focus is more on ourselves and where we need to improve, so hopefully we will manage things better.

“We work every week on ways to get better in defence,” he said. “We fixed up a few things this week that we lacked last weekend but it’s something we work on every week to get ourselves better and prevent teams from scoring.”

Of Cheslin Kolbe’s switch to fullback in place of Damian Willemse, who is nursing an injury, Arendse was confident that he would slot into the role seamlessly in the back three with himself and Ethan Hooker.

“It’s pretty much the same because I’ve played with Cheslin at fullback before,” said Arendse.

“It’s just a different number on his jersey. We communicate really well in training and on the field and we’ll take that onto the park this weekend.”

This Test will mark Arendse’s first at the FNB Stadium, despite accumulating 33 caps in his career to date and he was excited about the occasion.

“I think the atmosphere is going to be amazing,” said the former Blitzbok speedster.

“The last time I was at FNB Stadium was in 2023 for the Soweto Derby (between South African football clubs Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates) and the support that came out for that was great, so I think it will be the same this weekend. We’re really looking forward to it.”

Arendse shared his teammates sentiments that they would like to finish off their home Tests with a good performance: “It’s a really important Test and we’re going to give everything. We definitely want to finish on a high.”

Meanwhile, All Black head coach Dave Rennie has named his team to play South Africa in the third Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, where Tupou Vaa’i will earn his 50th Test cap.

In changes from the team that played the second Test last weekend, hooker Asafo Aumua will start with Samisoni Taukei’aho coming onto the bench as impact.

Sam Darry starts at lock in his 11th Test, while Fabian Holland moves to the bench. Peter Lakai will start in the six jersey and Wallace Sititi will make his first Test appearance in the Series, coming into the 23 as loose forward impact.

Rennie said: “Tupes is a top man. It’ll be a special day for him and his family and additional motivation for us.

“With both teams heading into the third Test one apiece, there’s everything to play for on Saturday. The team that doesn’t win this weekend can’t win the series. That’s the kind of challenge we love to rise to.

“The team is feeling fresh after a full week’s lead in to the game and we can’t wait to put everything out on the park.”

Rennie has also paid tribute to the All Blacks' huge fanbase: “We’ve really felt the support not only from our travelling army of Kiwi fans and fans here in South Africa, but also the New Zealand public back home. It’s been massive for us and we look forward to more of the same this weekend.”

The match kicks off at 5.10pm and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Springbok starting XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker; 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach; 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt); 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Manie Libbok.

All Black starting XV: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter; 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard; 8 Ardie Savea (capt), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Peter Lakai; 5 Sam Darry, 4 Tupou Vaa’i; 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 George Bower. Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Josh Moorby.

Springboks v All Blacks - Saturday @ FNB Stadium, Soweto (5.10pm)

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)

Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Christophe Ridley (England)

Television Match Official: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

Split Screen/FPRO: Brett Cronan (RA)