KEY POINTS:
DURBAN - Star All Black Daniel Carter is a marked man as the Springboks today vowed to replicate the rugby shut-down of pivot Stephen Larkham which helped them topple the Wallabies.
As the hosts confirmed the absence of injured captain John Smit this weekend, backs coach Allister Coetzee turned the heat on Carter as the way to send shockwaves through the tourists here on Sunday (NZT).
"We rushed Larkham and if you look at the first dropped goal from the touchline (by Francois Steyn), it was pressure from Ruan (Pienaar) and he couldn't get the ball into touch," Coetzee told reporters at Springboks training in the warm Durban sun today.
"Of course Carter's human. He showed it when we played them in Cape Town (2005) and we put him under pressure. Ricky Januarie played that game and that was his instruction to make sure we closed that space down.
"If you stand back and wait for the New Zealanders they'll run you to pieces."
Thanks to Steyn's two late dropped goals, the Springboks retained their unbeaten record in four tests this year, 22-19 over the Wallabies in Cape Town on Sunday.
The All Blacks lineout throws will be targeted, with Coetzee saying set piece pressure would be crucial to a Carter shut-down as the Springboks chase their fourth win in four years against their traditional rivals.
The 16-22 loss in Cape Town in 2005 was one of Carter's more forgettable tests of a stellar career as the Springboks forced him into errors.
Victor Matfield's questionable tackle on Byron Kelleher early on also played its part, with a groggy Kelleher throwing an intercept pass soon afterwards which led to a try.
In Durban, Coetzee expected the All Blacks to throw the ball around and counter-attack, an approach he insisted his side were prepared to take as well.
"We're playing against real athletes this weekend. I'd like to think they'll play a bit of an expansive game as well, instead of kicking it down the middle like they have done in the past with us."
The All Blacks coaches have distanced themselves from saying this test has any relevance to the World Cup, but the Springboks are eyeing it a dress rehearsal for the final in Paris on October 20.
"It means a lot. You've got win five games to get to the final, this is our fifth test so it's exactly a dress rehearsal for World Cup, to play five tough games and make sure you win it," Coetzee said.
"This game has got all the relevance of a final, absolutely."
Coach Jake White will name his side tonight (10.30pm NZT).
Forwards coach Gert Smal said Smit would likely be out for 1-2 weeks with a hamstring strain, meaning either Victor Matfield or Bob Skinstad would take over the captaincy.
There could be only three changes to the run-on-side, with Gary Botha replacing Smit, Skinstad replacing Juan Smith (thigh) and giant prop Os du Randt replacing Gurthro Steenkamp (knee).
- NZPA
