More injuries, Norris out, Hotham to join side

Injuries continue to blight the All Blacks in South Africa.

Prop Ollie Norris is returning to New Zealand after suffering a knee cartilage injury, with a return to play of six weeks. A replacement will be named later. Meanwhile, halfback Noah Hotham is flying to South Africa to join the side on Tuesday, while Cortez Ratima’s knee injury is being assessed.

New All Blacks assistant coach Mike Blair said the New Zealanders think they have a formula to succeed against the world-champion Springboks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, but will need to grasp every attacking opportunity they can at Ellis Park on Sunday (NZT).

Blair, who joined his long-time coaching boss, Dave Rennie, on the All Blacks’ coaching panel earlier in the year, said the New Zealanders have been conscious of the four-Test series for several months. Along the way, the All Blacks have been rebuilding their confidence in the wake of the Scott Robertson years.

Blair told the media in South Africa on Sunday, after the All Blacks completed their 50-19 win over the Bulls in Pretoria, that they believe they have some room to manoeuvre in the series.

“We’ve been walking towards this for quite some time. We know what South Africa are going to bring. They’ve got some real strengths, but we see some opportunities as well.”

South Africa’s defensive ability and the likelihood that it will look to dominate possession and territory will make it much harder for the All Blacks to succeed than it has been in their three provincial games against sides shorn of their Test players.

“We’re aware that against South Africa, we’re going to get less opportunities, so when we do get it, we’ve got to be right on.

“Our skill set and decision-making – it’s something we’re reviewing, talking about and training as well.”

This is all while coaching staff are managing two teams with the midweek games they have.

“It’s been a challenge. It takes a lot of time to prepare a team, to preview, review, but it’s great for the group.

“It’s really good that we’ve got this opportunity to feed back on real life situations. Rather than reviewing training, we can talk through where we need to improve, how we need to improve, and what it’s going to take to get there.”

The players’ response received an excellent grade from Blair as they all look forward to getting into the Test series.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus said the new series, with a second leg to be staged in New Zealand in 2030, is almost like playing the knockout stages of a World Cup.

“We are facing one of the world’s best week in and week out, and we all understand the magnitude of the series.

“It’s a new and exciting challenge, and we have been putting a lot of work in behind the scenes, especially the group of coaches and players who remained behind in South Africa in the last two weeks.”

Meanwhile, former Springboks lock Mark Andrews, who played in the 1996 series against the All Blacks, told News24 believes the sides will share the 2026 version.

“The All Blacks are a side that can beat us any day of the week, and so can we. The interesting part is about which side can do it four weeks in a row, but I’m not expecting either side to win four matches in a row. I have a terrible feeling that it could be a 2-2 draw.”

The series isn’t just about winning the series.

Andrews said it will be a chance for Erasmus to roll the dice and assess which players can live in the pressure cooker Rugby World Cup environment.

“The only time you can find that out is across the next games.”

Andrews said another factor in South Africa’s favour in the series is that the Springboks will be wanting to succeed at home for their supporters.

“That’s something Rassie’s been able to instil in the players, in that when they run onto the field, they’re playing for a nation.”