PREVIEW OF THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP TEST IN WELLINGTON

SATURDAY, Sept 13, 7.35pm

All Blacks v Springboks at Westpac Stadium.

Head to Head: All Blacks 50 Springboks 34 Drawn 3

Last clash: All Blacks 38 Springboks 27 at Johannesburg, October 5, 2013

TAB odds: All Blacks $1.22 Springboks $4

More often than not, when these teams meet it’s the clash of the world’s two best nations. No difference here although the second-ranked Springboks have looked shaky of late, scraping past Argentina twice and then losing by a point to Australia last week. The tourists must settle on a game plan – the kick and chase that has worked well against NZ in the past, or a more expansive method – and stick to it. The All Blacks are missing some key names but should still have more cohesion and flair.

Keys: Referees have come under the spotlight in the Rugby Championship and adapting to Frenchman Jerome Garces could be crucial. Avoiding yellow cards and getting on the right side of scrum and technical ruck rulings are vital in tight Tests. Both teams are five-from-five under Garces.

Teams:

All Blacks: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Steven Luatua, Jeremy Thrush, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Joe Moody, Ben Franks, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Cory Jane.

South Africa: Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, Jan Serfontein, Jean de Villiers (capt), Bryan Habana, Handre Pollard, Ruan Pienaar, Duane Vermeulen, Marcell Coetzee, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Bismarck du Plessis, Trevor Nyakane, Marcel van der Merwe, Lood de Jager, Warren Whiteley, Francois Hougaard, Pat Lambie, Damian de Allende

Tip: All Blacks by 6 points