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High ball the 'Achilles Heel' for All Blacks in Springboks defeat
Robbie Cuthbertson • August 31st, 2026 11:35 am
Photo: Photosport
South Africa bounced back from their opening test defeat to beat New Zealand 33-26 and level the four-Test series in Cape Town.
The defeat was Dave Rennie’s first as coach of the All Blacks, and the team's first defeat in 2026.
Sport Nation’s Scotty and Izzy identified the inability to deal with the high balls as a point of weakness for the All Blacks.
“The Springboks want to kick the ball because at the moment it’s paying dividends on All Black errors on the reception,” said Scotty Stevenson.
2011 Rugby World Cup winner, Israel Dagg, highlighted the high ball as a point the Springboks are exploiting.
“South Africa are dominating that part of the game and they're doing it in a way where Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, you've got Cheslin Kolbe, they're attacking the ball from depth and getting up and winning that space.”
“They've done it in Test 1, they're done in Test 2 now, where they're going to put the All Blacks under pressure with the kick, and around the high ball, they are going to persistently go there,” said Dagg.
Stevenson described the high ball situation as a “stalemate” with the All Blacks wanting to receive kicks to attack an unset defensive line.
“We've got a bit of a stalemate haven't we because Dave Rennie wants them to kick the ball because that creates maybe a few kinks and bends in the defensive line and leads to an unstructured attack.”
“But the South Africans had done the work and, they know that you've got that guy that's chasing the ball, he's going to get up and add pressure,” said Stevenson.
As much as the All-Blacks issues with the high ball were self-inflicted, Dagg highlighted Cobus Reinach and his ability to execute the highball.
The All Blacks' high ball issues | Scotty & Izzy
“I think when South Africa kick it probably a little bit too long around that 30, 35-meter mark, that's when the All Blacks can catch it relatively easily,” said Dagg.
“But when Reinach was kicking it around 25 to 20 meters, and he was, and that player that's going back has to stop, he's losing his momentum and the South Africans have more momentum. They can get up and dominate the air.”
Stevenson said that the protection of halfbacks at the breakdown was a focal point that helped the Springboks execute their kicks, and is something that needs looking into by world rugby.
“The protection on halfbacks at the back of the breakdown, I think is an area of critical need from an address point of view for Rugby, if you are touching the ball in rugby union, you're fair game.”
“A halfback can essentially roll the ball back through legs, sit there with his hands on the ball until the referee says use it, and he's untouchable,” said Stevenson.
Dagg said that fixing the high ball issues can be a route to success for the All Blacks as they aim to retake the series lead in Johannesburg.
“They're going to persist with it because when it's done right, with Will Jordan’s bravery, gets up and gets the ball. If they're able to continue to win those balls, they're going to do well by the game.
“If they can get it right, sure it up, whatever way they're going to do that, I'm sure, if they can get it sorted, they can go a long way to winning this game,” said Dagg.
Listen to the full discussion below:
