The ultimate pressure test

Conversations with All Blacks players and coaches are often peppered with references about pressure.

Captain Kieran Read spoke about it before his side’s World Cup opener against the Springboks in Yokohama, and coach Steve Hansen reminded the world that it was the teams who can hold their nerve that will have the best chance of survival at a global tournament.

When Hansen and his fellow selectors sifted through candidates for the event first World Cup in Japan they wanted men who thrived when the pressure was almost unbearable.

It’s guaranteed there will plenty of tension when the Blacks and Boks meet tonight.

The All Blacks may not be ranked by World Rugby as the best team – that honour belongs to Ireland – but few are taking much notice of that; it’s the men in black all countries worry about most.

A victory over the South Africans at International Stadium Yokohama will ensure the other teams continue to fret. A psychological edge always helps.

It doesn’t matter who they play, the All Blacks know their opponents will treasure a win over them for the rest of their lives. Remember Peter-Steph du Toit’s reaction when the Springboks beat the All Blacks in Wellington last year? The giant flanker shed tears of joy, overwhelmed by emotion.

‘‘With that [success] comes higher expectations and with higher expectations comes more pressure, and if you don’t deal with that pressure it will overwhelm you,’’ Hansen said.

‘‘That’s the big thing, who going to cope with that the best?’’

As Hansen noted it’s vital players learn to accept bad decisions, and not allow their concentration to waver.

He doesn’t lack leaders to urge their team-mates remain calm if the Springboks squeeze them for long periods.

Captain and No 8 Kieran Read and lock Sam Whitelock have played more than 100 tests each, banking invaluable experiences in all corners of the world.

Truth be known, it’s the defeats they probably remember most.

So when French referee Jerome Garces finally gets this match started, the All Blacks should be well equipped to deal to breathe deep and not panic as the Springboks pile into them.

It’s guaranteed they will. While be All is

Referee:

■ This will be the 99th test match between the All Blacks and South Africa, with 58 wins to New Zealand, 36 to South Africa and four draws. The last was a 16-16 draw in Wellington this year.

■ The All Blacks matchday 23 has a total of 1061 tests experience between them, including two centurions in Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock, and seven other players with more than 50 test caps experience.

■ The All Blacks and Springboks have met four times at the World Cup, but this is their first meeting in pool play. The two sides have previously played at the 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2015 World Cups.

■ Twelve players will be making their World Cup debut, while at the other end of the scale, lock Sam Whitelock and midfielder Sonny Bill Williams will be playing their 15th World Cup match and captain Kieran Read his 12th.

■ Beauden Barrett has scored 99 points against South Africa (4 tries, 23 conversions and 11 penalties).

Source: All Blacks.com

there will be subtle changes to their game plan, the Springboks are expected to stick to everything they do well.

That means driving off lineouts, kicking for the corners and using a fast defensive line with the wings flying in off their territory to make life hell for the All Blacks’ midfield backs.

As Hansen stated this week, the Springboks ‘‘roll the dice’’.

It will be a gamble to ask the quickies to suffocate the All Blacks midfielders Anton Lienert-Brown and Ryan Crotty, but Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus is unlikely to be swayed by Hansen’s talk.

Erasmus will have taken great satisfaction from the way his side rattled the All Blacks’ attack when they drew 16-16 in Wellington on July 27.

Read could be the key for the All Blacks.

Hansen noted yesterday how his skipper had evolved since replacing Richie McCaw after the 2015 World Cup.

Read, said his coach, was an inclusive skipper who communicated well with his team-mates.

‘‘He leads from the front . . . and he’s starting to get more and more demanding, which I like,’’ Hansen said.