Rennie admits All Blacks got set-piece 'badly wrong' after second straight loss to Springboks

New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie has conceded the All Blacks got their set-piece work “badly wrong” on multiple occasions during their second straight defeat to South Africa in Soweto, and insists limiting errors is the most effective way to neutralise the Springboks’ dominant forward game.

Speaking to New Zealand media on Tuesday, Rennie identified a clear pattern: every All Blacks mistake gifted South Africa a set-piece opportunity, and the Springboks — possessing one of the most powerful scrums and mauls in world rugby — rarely waste those invitations.

“They’ve got a great scrum, they’ve got a great maul, so our ability to stay in front of that maul is important,” Rennie said. “The easiest way is to limit those occurrences. So, if we’re more accurate, there are fewer scrums and greater continuity for us, and we don’t kick the ball out.”

The 62-year-old was candid about the knock-on consequences of those lapses. “If you make an error, they get to go to a set piece. They get a penalty off that. They march up the field — so yeah, it’s still an area we’re going to have to be better at.”

Rennie did point to some positives on New Zealand’s own ball, but acknowledged the damage was done when the All Blacks were on the back foot. “On our ball, the scrum was reasonably solid. We got it badly wrong on one, then got punished with one of their feeds, and so look, it’s a weapon for them, and that’s the challenge.”

Beyond the set-piece, Rennie argued that greater clinical edge in attack could have changed the result. “South Africa are very good at creating opportunities and taking their chances — they scored under the post, and that was a big moment in the game. If we can limit their opportunities and be a little bit more clinical, the result could go another way.”

Despite the back-to-back defeats, Rennie was measured in his assessment of the opposition. “They’re a very good side, and they scramble really well. I think the better side probably won in the end.”

Both squads travelled together on the same flight from Johannesburg to Washington, DC, where the series continues. Rennie noted the trip passed largely without incident, describing the atmosphere between the two camps as cordial. “There’s a lot of goodwill between the two sides, so travelling together was good.”