Springbok lock Ruan Nortjé is bracing for a fierce set-piece contest against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium on Saturday, singling out New Zealand’s Fabian Holland as a major threat in the decisive third Test.
Ruan Nortjé has identified the lineout as the “fight within the fight” when the Springboks face the All Blacks at FNB Stadium on Saturday — and the experienced lock knows exactly who will be leading New Zealand’s challenge.
Fabian Holland has been one of the standout performers of the series so far, and Nortjé has nothing but respect for the All Blacks lock ahead of the decisive third Test.
“Some weeks they’ve got your number, some weeks you’ve got theirs, that’s the quality you’re up against,” Nortjé said on Tuesday.
“It’s about making sure that we work as hard as possible, put plans in place to put them under pressure, and I’m sure they’ll have their own plans for this weekend too.”
For Nortjé, however, preparation is only half the battle. The ability to react when plans unravel during a Test can be just as important.
“It’s about handling it when they put us under pressure and adapting as quickly as possible, especially in that situation in the game,” he said.
And there is one opponent who has certainly caught his eye.
“Fabian Holland is a world-class player, he’s shown that the last two weeks,” Nortjé said. “A lot of respect to him, it’s always a privilege to play against him.”
The stakes will be amplified by the setting, with close to 90,000 supporters expected to pack FNB Stadium for the third Test.
After a crowd of 56,000 watched the second Test in Cape Town, Nortjé is relishing the prospect of playing in front of a massive Johannesburg crowd.
“It will be an amazing experience. Last week was 56,000 people in Cape Town, this week it might be 85,000 or 90,000. We can only imagine how awesome that will be,” he said.
“No matter where we play, we know what we have to do and what we have to stick to. It’ll just be awesome to have that many people supporting you, feeding off them, getting energy from them, and enjoying every moment.”
Nortjé also brings a useful perspective when it comes to dealing with referees, having captained the Bulls.
While he stressed that his experience is at franchise level, he believes understanding an official’s personality and communication style is crucial.
“You’ve got to understand where the referee is at in the game and how he’s communicating,” he said.
“Certain referees have different styles, different profiles, different ways of communicating and running the game, so it’s important to understand the person you’re working with, and what the best way and the best time is to talk to him, and when not to.”
And if a team feels decisions are going against it, Nortjé believes the best response is to focus on what it can control.
“If you feel like you’re not getting the rub of the green from the ref, for me it’s about standing back a bit, making sure you work through your own actions in the game, play as close to the laws as possible, and then leave it to him to make his decision rather than putting too much pressure on him.”
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