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'We’ve got to stay away from the hurt locker': Marshall urges All Blacks to change it up
Jaxin Daniels • September 9th, 2026 11:48 am
Justin Marshall against the Springboks in 1999 | Photo: Scott Barbour / Photosport
Justin Marshall believes the All Blacks must stop playing into South Africa’s strengths to avoid another physical battle in the fourth Test.
The All Blacks have lost the last two Tests against the Springboks and are dealing with fatigue after a demanding tour, but Marshall says the answer is not to simply match South Africa with more power.
The Springboks have stuck with their strongest team throughout the series, and Marshall says Rassie Erasmus has no reason to give the All Blacks any encouragement.
“He's got his foot on the throat at the moment,” Marshall told Sport Nation Mornings.
“That team, that's their DNA, that's the way they operate.”
Marshall says the series is a contest between the two best teams in the world, with neither side willing to take a backward step.
“The whole chat throughout this Test series has been about the fact that this is the greatest rivalry,” he said.
“This is the best two teams in the world going at each other with everything they've got, and no one wants to take a backwards step.”
McHardy believes the Springboks and All Blacks are more evenly matched than criticism might suggest | Sport Nation
The All Blacks must now find a way to keep the game moving and attack the Springboks in areas they have not been able to control.
“We've got to stay away from where they want to take us,” Marshall said.
“They want to take us into the hurt locker, set piece physical-wise. We just want to avoid that at all costs.”
South Africa have dominated key periods through their scrum, lineout and close-range attack, while their defence has also improved throughout the series.
Marshall says the All Blacks must limit the number of opportunities South Africa get to impose themselves at set piece.
“We've got to do is find a way around them not having the ability to have as many scrums as they would like and insert their dominance on us,” he said.
The former All Black believes New Zealand can trouble South Africa when it plays with width and tempo.
“When we do, we look like we can hurt them big time,” Marshall said.
With Ardie Savea and Quinn Tupaea unavailable, Marshall believes the injuries also provide an opportunity to give South Africa a different challenge.
He suggested Richie Mo’unga, Rieko Ioane, Ethan Blackadder and Timoci Tavatavanawai could all come into contention as the All Blacks look to freshen up their approach.
“Let's show them something that they're not used to,” Marshall said.
“Let's give Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende in the midfield something else to consider, which I would think maybe a Rieko Ioane.”
Marshall also sees Tavatavanawai as a potential impact option from the bench.
“Now there's something they've not seen,” he said.
Timoci Tavatavanawai | Photo: Shaun Roy/Photosport
The All Blacks could also reshape their loose forwards, with Marshall favouring Tupou Vaa’i at blindside flanker.
“I would like to see Tupou Vaa’i on the side of the scrum,” he said.
That would allow New Zealand to select a more mobile combination and use its energy and speed in the final quarter.
“I think in the last quarter, if we're in the Test match, we're fitter than them,” Marshall said.
“I think adding tempo into the game, that's the right time to do it rather than adding firepower and physicality.”
Marshall believes the All Blacks remain close to South Africa, but says they need to make the game look different if they are to secure a draw in the series.
Listen to the full interview:
