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Springboks legend: The ‘big issue’ for the All Blacks in South Africa is ‘the way they play’ An understrength All Blacks taking on the Stormers and Springboks legend Schalk Burger. Springboks legend Schalk Burger believes that depth could be the difference during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series due to the All Blacks’ high-speed game. Dave Rennie has been handed the reins following the sacking of Scott Robertson, and he has looked to bring back the attacking style they have become synonymous with over the years. They enjoyed success in the Nations Championship, winning all three games against France, Italy and Ireland, but this next month will be another level up for New Zealand. Set for a punishing series At the home of the back-to-back world champions, they will play three Test matches before the fourth will take place on neutral soil in the USA. It is a big workload and Burger ultimately reckons that the All Blacks’ up-tempo style could come at a cost as the series goes on. “The big issue for the All Blacks is the way they play. There’s going to be nothing in these four Test matches, but it’s four games back-to-back, so it’s depth,” he said on the Boks Unpacked podcast. “If you look at the Springboks, we’ve got a couple of older hands coming back; we haven’t seen Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth. “Siya Kolisi’s playing [against Argentina] and Sacha’s [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] been injured. What we’ve created by default is another two layers of players who can fill in and have already played this season. “You think Ben-Jason Dixon, Cobus Wiese and Cameron Hanekom. Cameron Hanekom potentially becomes the new Kwagga Smith on the bench. I don’t think he gets a start, but he had a start against Argentina.” Burger did suggest the All Blacks will get better after the first Test but that the depth of the Springboks could ultimately tell. “I think the All Blacks will get better the longer the series goes on; it’s like facing a fast bowler. The first time you face the Boks, you know what’s coming but the intensity of South Africa and the vibe shocks you,” he said. “Once you’ve faced it once, you get used to it, and the line speed gets a bit easier and you find a way to unpick the defence, but then the depth comes into question; whether you can have that intensity over a month, which is something we haven’t had to do in modern times.” Rassie rotation Due to the heavy schedule and the fact that two matches will be at altitude in Johannesburg, Burger expects Boks boss Rassie Erasmus to rotate. “I think especially between the first and second Tests, between playing at altitude and playing in Cape Town,” he said. “The third Test back at altitude we will see more like the first Test. I’ve never been to Baltimore; who knows what’s going on there! “From a series perspective, not South African, you’re thinking that’s where the decider’s got to be.” Burger was joined on the panel by All Blacks great Justin Marshall, who would be delighted if New Zealand could get to Baltimore 2-1 in arrears. “I think we would be happy with that. If we can get out of here having not lost the series by that stage, that would be a win big time for the All Blacks,” Marshall said. “When I was thinking about this tour and also replicating what we did, our full focus was winning that first Test because then you’re on the front foot in the series. “The other team’s playing catch-up.”