Laurie Mains urges All Blacks to sharpen their game and expose Springboks’ hidden weaknesses.
All Blacks Must Adapt to Outplay South Africa
The All Blacks are heading into a critical two-Test series against the Springboks, and former head coach Laurie Mains has issued a sharp warning: adapt or risk falling short. Mains, who guided New Zealand between 1992 and 1995, believes South Africa no longer resemble the dominant force they were at the last Rugby World Cup. Instead, he sees cracks in their game—weaknesses the All Blacks must target when they meet at Eden Park on September 6 and Wellington on September 13.
The Springboks enter this showdown after a turbulent run against the Wallabies. They suffered a 38-22 defeat at Ellis Park before narrowly escaping with a 30-22 win in Cape Town. The All Blacks, however, are also nursing their wounds following a 29-23 loss to Argentina in Buenos Aires—a defeat that came only a week after their 41-24 triumph in Córdoba.
Concerns Over All Blacks’ Identity
Mains did not hold back when assessing New Zealand’s recent performance. Speaking on the Millsy & Guy Sport Nation show, he questioned whether the current side had strayed from the fast, fluid rugby that once set them apart.
“Argentina played some of their best rugby ever, but New Zealand helped them with errors,” Mains explained. “Dropped passes, poor line-outs, and basic mistakes robbed the All Blacks of rhythm. The effort was there, but the execution was not.”
Line-Out Failures Spark Worry
The former coach pointed directly at one of rugby’s most crucial battlegrounds: the line-out. For Mains, it remains the glaring weakness in New Zealand’s setup.
“At times, our line-out calls were excellent, yet on other occasions, they collapsed completely. Without clean ball from the line-out, everything else breaks down,” he stressed.
While praising the team’s scrummaging power, Mains emphasized that both set-pieces must function together if the All Blacks are to dominate the Springboks.
Springboks Can Be Broken Down
Despite South Africa’s physical presence, Mains insists they are not unbeatable. He cited Australia’s spirited comeback at Ellis Park—where they clawed back from 22-0 down—as proof the Boks can be unsettled.
“They’re not the same side that won the last World Cup. There are vulnerabilities, and the All Blacks must exploit them,” Mains declared. His tactical advice was clear: create rucks further away from set plays, stretching South Africa’s defense and forcing their heavy forwards to work harder across the field.
Conclusion
Laurie Mains’ message is simple yet demanding: the All Blacks must rediscover their identity, refine their set-pieces, and challenge the Springboks in areas where they look exposed. Both teams have shown inconsistency in recent weeks, meaning this series could come down to who adapts faster and executes smarter. For New Zealand, the opportunity is there—but only if they seize it.
