Steve Hansen urges All Blacks to do the unexpected against the Springboks

The Springboks have been in sensational form to begin the 2026 international season and, with the All Blacks rebuilding under new head coach Dave Rennie, are favourites to win the four-match Test series being played in South Africa in August and September.

However, Hansen believes New Zealand have a good chance of winning the series if they can stop the Springboks from being able to settle into their familiar rhythm.

"I like doing the unexpected against them because that's what they don't want. They just want to be able to go chug, chug, chug, chug, chug," he said.

"Yes, they'll tell you they play at pace. But that's after they've physically bashed you. Then they'll speed it up because you've got nothing left.

"It looks like they're going faster, but they're really not. They've just got more energy because you're knackered trying to deal with their physicality.

"So think outside the square. Do things in a way that means they can't have what they want, because then they'll get frustrated.

"They'll start thinking, 'This isn't right. I'm the top dog here and I'm not getting what I want.' And then they start to question themselves.

"Any good team, if you take away what they want, automatically they've got to start thinking because they don't expect that. They expect to go out and get exactly what they want," he added.

"South Africa want physicality. So, as the ball-carrier, you can't allow them to physically dominate you.

"You've got to use your footwork into contact. You've got to make sure your breakdown work is good because of that footwork.

"Just deny them the opportunity to impose themselves on you."

According to Hansen, any successful strategy will have to involve a way of making the aerial game less of a factor throughout the series.

"They want a high-ball contest, so you've got to find a way to take that away as well," he said.

"South Africa are really good in the air. They don't actually catch that many contestable kicks, but they force you to drop most of them because they jump and create havoc while legitimately contesting. So let's reshape the way we think about it.

"If both players are running back for the kick, why can't your player compete to catch it as well? If he catches it, great. If he doesn't, at least he's taken away South Africa's opportunity to interfere with your catcher.

"I'd definitely rethink how I'd deal with those balls because you know they're coming."

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