Adam Williams presents his prediction for the 2024 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup match.
South Africa
South Africa secured a last-minute victory, trailing for most of the match, but there’s an explanation for that. Just six minutes into the game, one of their players was sent off, allowing the All Blacks to score a try. That set the tone for the rest of the match. At times, the Springboks struggled to contain the visitors' attacks, resulting in three quick tries. As usual, the South Africans focused on scrums and mauls. All three of their tries came from forward pressure.
New Zealand
The New Zealanders looked strong for most of the game, scoring four tries, but they brought about their own downfall by earning a 10-minute suspension in the 68th minute. The Springboks capitalised on their numerical advantage twice. To be fair, avoiding that yellow card would have been difficult given the relentless mauling pressure from the hosts. The overall experience of the South African team played a part. The head coach saved his seasoned players for the end, whereas the All Blacks lacked that depth in their squad.
South Africa - New Zealand Prediction
In head-to-head encounters, South Africa have won the last three matches, and the Springboks have been undefeated in official tournaments for seven games. They often win by narrow margins. This was evident in the 2023 World Cup, where all their playoff matches were won by just one point. In Cape Town, we shouldn’t expect a blowout for New Zealand, but a loss seems highly improbable. Therefore, a small handicap on the hosts is appropriate.
