Drama guaranteed as Springboks host All Blacks
Opposing coaches Meyer and Hansen have one eye on Rugby Championship and one on World Cup
Any test match between South Africa and world champions New Zealand is guaranteed to be full of drama, and Saturday's clash at Ellis Park in Johannesburg promises to be no different.
Last year at the same stadium, a monster last-minute penalty goal by replacement fly-half Patrick Lambie earned the Springboks a rare recent victory.
It was only the second loss suffered by the No1-ranked All Blacks since they won the 2011 World Cup in Auckland, and ended a run of five consecutive victories over their greatest rivals.
Facing South Africa will be a pressure situation and there is no better place than Johannesburg to get answers about players
Despite home advantage and the backing of most in an expected sell-out 62,000 crowd, the Springboks start as underdogs in Saturday’s Rugby Championship second-round showdown.
South Africa surrendered a 13-point lead when losing at the death in Australia last Saturday a day after New Zealand cruised to a five-try 39-18 victory over Argentina in Christchurch.
Rival coaches Heyneke Meyer and Steve Hansen have one eye on the Championship and one on the World Cup.
All Blacks handler Hansen has rung the changes when announcing three starting line-ups, with the visit to Johannesburg preceded by a 25-16 test win in Samoa and the pounding of the Pumas.
The coach who succeeded Graham Henry after the 2011 World Cup triumph has chosen three right wingers, three centre partnerships, three scrum halves and three lock pairings.
