Mallett highlighted the psychological battlefield, pinpointing the importance of the final Test in the series. "He wants it to be 3-1 and the All Blacks will be absolutely delighted with 2-2. There is a helluva lot riding on this Test, there are bragging rights," he explained, underscoring the mental games at play.
"We’ve had opportunities in the four Test matches. We won the first one but lost the next three."
Mallett cautioned the Springboks against complacency, given the All Blacks' knack for constant pressure and late surges in the game. "There’s not a moment where you can say they’re out of the game. They never give up," he asserted, signaling the enduring challenge posed by the New Zealand squad.
The tactical differences between the two teams were also a point of discussion. According to Mallett, South Africa's path to the try line is starkly different from New Zealand's, which is marked by fluidity and finesse. "We don’t score tries with the ease, grace, and skill that they do … not even close. We do score tries utilising our strengths like the scrums, driving mauls, direct," he noted, contrasting the different styles of play.
The discussion also touched upon individual performances, with Mallett pointing out the physical style of South African players like André Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel, and Damian de Allende, as opposed to the more elusive moves typical of the All Blacks. This difference in approach could be crucial in the high-pressure moments of the game.
The broader implications of the match were not lost on Mallett, who linked the outcome with future contests, particularly next year's World Cup quarter-final. A victory for the Springboks in Baltimore would sow seeds of doubt in the All Blacks, possibly giving South Africa a psychological edge in future encounters.
The final test not only promises to be a spectacle of top-tier rugby but also a strategic chess match that could define the narratives leading up to the World Cup. As teams prepare, the world watches keenly, anticipating a clash that could echo in the annals of rugby history.
