All Blacks coach expects beaten South Africa to revert to 'DNA'
South Africa's 38-22 loss at their Johannesburg stronghold stunned the rugby world while putting their Rugby Championship defence on shaky ground before a potentially decisive, two-test tour of New Zealand next month.
The Springboks have tried to move to a more expansive, ball-in-hand game style away from their usual strengths of physical dominance and tactical kicking - but Robertson suggested it may not last.
"No. We know how they're going to play – they'll play to their strengths," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"It's just their DNA," he said.
"It's about how you stop them, but also how you play your own game."
After conceding a 22-0 lead, Australia ran in six unanswered tries to beat the hosts at Ellis Park for the first time in over 60 years and trigger renewed optimism under coach Joe Schmidt.
Robertson, however, declined to conjure even faint praise for the Wallabies, saying he was more focused on the All Blacks' second test against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
"It was a game of small moments — a bounce of the ball, a pass. South Africa played beautifully for a long period, and then it just turned, didn't it?" he said.
"It shows how discipline, accuracy and limiting errors can change things quickly.
"I'll turn the page when we get past this week and we'll start talking about those teams," he said.
The All Blacks saw off an Argentina fightback to win 41-24 in Cordoba last Saturday despite a lack of cohesion in the back-line at times.
Rieko Ioane's move to the wing and Billy Proctor's promotion to starting number 13 remain under the microscope, with neither dominating their positions.
Robertson defended both players, saying Ioane was getting better every week and calling for patience for five-test Proctor.
"He's a long-term project, and we're sticking with him," he said of Proctor.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
8 hours ago
- CNA
Springboks make 10 changes for Australia clash in Cape Town
CAPE TOWN :South Africa have made 10 changes to their starting XV for the second Rugby Championship test against Australia in Cape Town on Saturday as coach Rassie Erasmus wields the axe following a shock 38-22 loss to the tourists in Johannesburg last weekend. Erasmus was left fuming by the manner of his side's capitulation at Ellis Park, as Australia scored 38 unanswered points after the Springboks had raced into a 22-0 lead, but fell apart in the second half. Only centre Jesse Kriel, scrumhalf Grant Williams, loose forward Marco van Staden, hooker Malcolm Marx and prop Ox Nche keep their places. The Springboks have lost four players to injury from that test, including captain Siya Kolisi (knee) and Pieter-Steph du Toit (concussion), who would likely have started again. Handre Pollard is back at flyhalf to provide a steadying hand, while Damian de Allende returns at inside centre to partner Kriel. Cheslin Kolbe is back from injury on the wing along with Canan Moodie, while experienced Willie le Roux, who recently won his 100th cap, is handed the fullback berth. Marx and Nche are joined in the front row by prop Thomas du Toit, while RG Snyman and Ruan Nortje make for a new lock pairing. Jean-Luc du Preez takes over at number eight, and Franco Mostert is the other flanker along with Van Staden. Erasmus has returned to a 6-2 split between forwards and backs on the bench, which suggests his side will play a tighter, forward-based game having seen their attempt to play expansive, running rugby contained by Australia as they did not score a point in the final 62 minutes of the fixture in Johannesburg. "We lost four players to injury last weekend, which obviously had an impact on a few of our selections, but we also know where we went wrong against Australia last week, so we made a few changes that we believe will offer us what we need for this game," Erasmus said. "Damian and Cheslin have also recovered from their injuries, and with their experience and knowledge of the Wallabies, it was a logical choice to recall them. "We let ourselves and the country down, so we have all the motivation we need to make things right this week." South Africa team: 15–Willie le Roux, 14–Canan Moodie, 13–Jesse Kriel, 12–Damian de Allende, 11–Cheslin Kolbe, 10–Handre Pollard, 9–Grant Williams, 8–Jean-Luc du Preez, 7–Franco Mostert, 6–Marco van Staden, 5–Ruan Nortje, 4–RG Snyman, 3–Thomas du Toit, 2–Malcolm Marx, 1–Ox Nche
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
Springboks make 10 changes for Australia clash in Cape Town
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox CAPE TOWN - South Africa have made 10 changes to their starting XV for the second Rugby Championship test against Australia in Cape Town on Saturday as coach Rassie Erasmus wields the axe following a shock 38-22 loss to the tourists in Johannesburg last weekend. Erasmus was left fuming by the manner of his side's capitulation at Ellis Park, as Australia scored 38 unanswered points after the Springboks had raced into a 22-0 lead, but fell apart in the second half. Only centre Jesse Kriel, scrumhalf Grant Williams, loose forward Marco van Staden, hooker Malcolm Marx and prop Ox Nche keep their places. The Springboks have lost four players to injury from that test, including captain Siya Kolisi (knee) and Pieter-Steph du Toit (concussion), who would likely have started again. Handre Pollard is back at flyhalf to provide a steadying hand, while Damian de Allende returns at inside centre to partner Kriel. Cheslin Kolbe is back from injury on the wing along with Canan Moodie, while experienced Willie le Roux, who recently won his 100th cap, is handed the fullback berth. Marx and Nche are joined in the front row by prop Thomas du Toit, while RG Snyman and Ruan Nortje make for a new lock pairing. Jean-Luc du Preez takes over at number eight, and Franco Mostert is the other flanker along with Van Staden. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP 2026 to be held at National Stadium to accommodate more Singaporeans Singapore Girl, 14, among 3 injured after minibus falls into Bukit Panjang canal Singapore Man to be charged after allegedly slashing another man with Swiss knife at City Plaza Singapore What led to Changi Airport runway incident involving 2 China Eastern Airlines planes in Aug 2024 Singapore FairPrice apologises after worm found in salmon bought from Bedok North outlet Singapore S'pore starts Stop Vaping microsite; Ong Ye Kung thanks influencers for taking stand against habit Singapore How we can beat the heat in Singapore Erasmus has returned to a 6-2 split between forwards and backs on the bench, which suggests his side will play a tighter, forward-based game having seen their attempt to play expansive, running rugby contained by Australia as they did not score a point in the final 62 minutes of the fixture in Johannesburg. "We lost four players to injury last weekend, which obviously had an impact on a few of our selections, but we also know where we went wrong against Australia last week, so we made a few changes that we believe will offer us what we need for this game," Erasmus said. "Damian and Cheslin have also recovered from their injuries, and with their experience and knowledge of the Wallabies, it was a logical choice to recall them. "We let ourselves and the country down, so we have all the motivation we need to make things right this week." South Africa team: 15–Willie le Roux, 14–Canan Moodie, 13–Jesse Kriel, 12–Damian de Allende, 11–Cheslin Kolbe, 10–Handre Pollard, 9–Grant Williams, 8–Jean-Luc du Preez, 7–Franco Mostert, 6–Marco van Staden, 5–Ruan Nortje, 4–RG Snyman, 3–Thomas du Toit, 2–Malcolm Marx, 1–Ox Nche Replacements: 16–Marnus van der Merwe, 17–Boan Venter, 18–Wilco Louw, 19–Eben Etzebeth, 20–Lood de Jager, 21–Kwagga Smith, 22–Cobus Reinach, 23–Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. REUTERS
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Straits Times
New Zealand excited by return of forgotten midfielder Thomas
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Peru v New Zealand - 2018 World Cup Qualifying Playoffs - National Stadium, Lima, Peru - November 15, 2017. Peru's Alberto Rodriguez and New Zealand's Ryan Thomas fight for the ball. REUTERS/Mariana Bazo/File Photo After six injury-blighted years in Dutch club soccer, midfielder Ryan Thomas is set to make his long-awaited New Zealand return in a pair of friendlies against Australia next month to the delight of All Whites coach Darren Bazeley. Thomas, whose last international appearance was a friendly against Ireland in late-2019, was named in Bazeley's squad for the trans-Tasman clashes on Tuesday. The 30-year-old's return comes after a rare period of fitness that has seen him recover a starting role for PEC Zwolle in the Dutch top tier. Having the 19-cap All White fit and firing would be a major boost for New Zealand ahead of their return to the World Cup at the 2026 finals in North America. "It's like a new signing, almost, which we don't get, obviously, because we're not a club team," Bazeley told New Zealand media on Tuesday. "Having somebody of the calibre and quality of Ryan coming back into the team is great." Hailing from Te Puke, a small town renowned in New Zealand for its kiwifruit, Thomas made his professional debut for PEC Zwolle as a 19-year-old winger before reinventing himself as a holding midfielder. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore What led to Changi Airport runway incursion involving 2 China Eastern Airlines planes in Aug 2024 Singapore Singapore seals carbon credit deal with Thailand, its first South-east Asian partner Singapore CPIB nabs 9 suspects for alleged match-fixing in national basketball league Singapore Live Singapore-raised seafood on sale at 3 Giant supermarkets from Aug 19 Asia Singaporean man sentenced to 72 years' jail in Malaysia for murdering wife and stepson Singapore Court to assess if teen who advertised vapes for sale on WhatsApp can receive probation Life Local indie theatre The Projector ceases operations from Aug 19 after a decade A move to Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in 2018 was hailed in New Zealand as one of the biggest signings in its football history. It all went sour within days, though, as Thomas ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament at training and spent the next few seasons battling a succession of knee problems until his release from PSV in 2022. He returned to his first club but the injuries continued at PEC Zwolle, with another round of knee surgery wiping out much of 2024. Amid his struggles, Thomas opted out of playing for international football but was among the first to congratulate captain Chris Wood when the All Whites sealed their 2026 World Cup qualification in March. Bazeley has been patient with Thomas, saying he would keep the door open as long as he could before the global showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico. But he was pleasantly surprised the midfielder had made himself available for the September 5 and September 9 matches against Australia, having hoped he might return for away fixtures against Poland and Norway in October. "He was like, 'Man, I've never played against Australia and I really want to play against them.' So yeah, he's in, which is great," said Bazeley. New Zealand skipper Wood, who scored a double in Nottingham Forest's Premier League opener against Brentford, was also included in Bazeley's squad for the trans-Tasman "Soccer Ashes" inspired by the cricket contest between Australia and England. REUTERS
