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Live sport on SN this weekendUmaga pinpoints All Blacks’ key weakness ahead of third Springboks Test
Robbie Cuthbertson • September 3rd, 2026 1:32 pm
All Blacks | Photo: Photosport
All Blacks assistant coach Tana Umaga says New Zealand must improve their starts if they are to take the series lead in Johannesburg this weekend.
Umaga identified their openings as a key area of focus, with New Zealand having fallen behind early in both of the Tests to date.
“The major thing at the minute is just to round our starts - getting a good start, not giving them the start that they want,” Umaga told Sport Nation's Scotty & Izzy.
“In the first two Tests, we’ve always come from behind.”
Umaga said the group's resilience helped them recover, with differing levels of success.
Tana Umaga on the All Blacks' defence | Sport Nation
“You can't fault our effort," he added.
“We're right there till the 80th minute. We give up points early which puts us on the back foot, but we never lose faith in what we're about and what we are doing.”
"We've shown great resilience; our leaders have really stepped up in those areas, and everyone's got them behind them, so I think you're seeing a more resilient group here.”
The All Blacks assistant coach didn't shy away from the enormity of the occasion.
“These are the moments that you want to be a part of, and the kind of games you want to be a part of,” Umaga said.
Tana Umaga on his All Blacks appointment | Sport Nation
“We understand the magnitude of what's in front of us, and that's something that you've got to work towards.”
On a personal note, Umaga admitted being back in the All Blacks fold had been hugely rewarding.
"It's been amazing really just to be a part of it,” he said.
“It's not something that I thought would have happened in my time, but I'm really fortunate for it, and you're working with some of the best players in the country available to us, in our little country.”
"This is a team that you know you support as a young kid, and now you see the future of it in good hands with these players."
The third Test between the All Blacks and South Africa kicks off Sunday, 3am (NZ time).
Listen to the full interview below:
