All Blacks coach Dave Rennie is backing his captain Ardie Savea to perform against the Springboks at Ellis Park.
Coach Dave Rennie believes the All Blacks can give themselves a precious early advantage by “drawing first blood” against the Springboks at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Like his Springbok counterpart Rassie Erasmus, Rennie acknowledged the importance of winning the opening Test of the four-match Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
“It will help, wouldn’t it?” he grinned. “I guess whoever doesn’t win the first Test will say it doesn’t matter because we’ve still got three to go. I’m sure both sides want to start well. We see this being a really tough tour, so drawing first blood would help.”
Rennie has been handed a major selection boost with a trio of key players returning from injury in time for the series opener. Will Jordan, Cam Roigard, and Damian McKenzie have all overcome fitness concerns, though the visitors have lost influential backs Billy Proctor and Caleb Clarke, who have been ruled out of the tour and forced home.
