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SA Rugby: World Cup, not All Blacks, will define Rassie

Cape Town - Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will not have his legacy determined by what happens against the All Blacks on Saturday, says SA Rugby president Mark Alexander.

Erasmus had said in the build-up to the match that a repeat of last year's 57-0 thrashing in Albany would likely see him fired, but Alexander was quick to put a stop to that thinking. 

Speaking to Keo.co.za, Alexander said that Erasmus would definitely be the man to guide the Boks to the World Cup in Japan next year. 

"The All Blacks have consistently been the number one team in the world. Their record at home is unrivalled and this year they have put 40 points past the Wallabies and 46 past the Pumas," he said.

"The Springboks have never won at Westpac Stadium. It would require a history-making effort to get the win. I know the belief within the squad is such that Saturday could be that glory evening but the making of Rassie Erasmus as the Springbok coach won’t be in a victory or defeat on Saturday evening.

"Rassie’s legacy as a coach will be balanced against what the Springboks can produce at the 2019 World Cup and we trust everything in his plan over the next year to get the Springboks into a position of strength and World Cup tournament contenders.

"Rassie was appointed because of the detail in his plan to build a squad that could be realistic challengers at the World Cup.

"We knew there would be hiccups along the way. The World Cup remains the pinnacle in this plan."

Kick-off in Wellington on Saturday is at 09:35 (SA time). 

Teams:

New Zealand

15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Karl Tu'inukuafe

Substitutes: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Jack Goodhue, 23 Damian McKenzie

South Africa

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Jesse Kriel 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Beast Mtawarira, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Ross Cronjé, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Cheslin Kolbe

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