Mike Blair calls Johannesburg Test a key series decider

All Blacks attack coach Mike Blair has described the third Test against South Africa at FNB Stadium as effectively a series decider for the South African leg of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, with the teams locked at one victory apiece.

Mike Blair raises stakes for FNB Stadium Test

New Zealand won the opening Test at Ellis Park before the Springboks responded with a 33-26 victory in Cape Town, leaving the four-match contest finely balanced heading into the third encounter.

While the overall series will not officially be decided until the fourth and final Test in Baltimore, Blair believes Saturday’s match carries additional significance because it completes the three-Test portion played in South Africa.

“It’s certainly a big game. You’ve got the three games in South Africa,” Blair said.

He suggested the winner at FNB Stadium could consider themselves the winner of the South African leg of the series while also taking a major advantage into the final meeting.

All Blacks target series advantage against Springboks

Blair stressed that victory would guarantee the winning team could no longer lose the four-match series outright.

“If you win this one, then you’re not losing the series. So it puts you in the driving seat,” he said.

Springboks and All Blacks series heads to Baltimore

Both teams now have the opportunity to move within one result of securing the overall series before travelling to the United States.

South Africa will look to build on their improved performance in Cape Town, while New Zealand will attempt to regain the momentum established with their opening-Test victory.

The fourth and final Test will then be staged in Baltimore, where the overall Greatest Rivalry series will formally be decided.