Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus shouldered much of the blame for the Johannesburg defeat this week.

The Springboks will have an immediate opportunity to reclaim the world No 1 ranking when they face the All Blacks of New Zealand in the second Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

South Africa surrendered top spot to New Zealand after a 33-16 defeat to the All Blacks at Ellis Park last weekend.

However, the world champions can return to the summit with a victory in Cape Town.

Struggling form

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus shouldered much of the blame for the Johannesburg defeat this week, taking responsibility alongside his technical staff while acknowledging that the team's performance fell below the standards they have established in recent years.

"I'm taking responsibility for some decisions we made. The truth is that a lot of the things that we asked from them (the players), they did," Erasmus told reporters.

"The ‌plan ⁠didn't win the game for us, but it's definitely not the players that lost the game. I think this game was very much lost on decisions I made during the week."

A South African victory by between one and 15 points would earn the Boks 1.18 ranking points, lifting their tally from 92.21 to 93.39. New Zealand would lose the same number of points, dropping from 94.03 to 92.85.

A victory by 16 points or more would give South Africa 1.77 ranking points, while New Zealand would surrender the same amount.

The All Blacks, meanwhile, can strengthen their hold on top spot with another victory.

New Zealand response

A New Zealand win by between one and 15 points would earn them 0.82 points and take their tally to 94.85, while South Africa would drop to 91.39.

An All Blacks victory by 16 points or more would earn them 1.23 points, lifting their tally to 95.26. The Boks would lose the same number of points and fall to 90.98.

New Zealand coach Dave Rennie has made two concussion-enforced changes to his starting XV and will also be without lock Josh Lord and prop Ethan de Groot.

His only other change is the inclusion of wing Leroy Carter in the starting side.

Rennie said his team would need to improve physically after largely losing the contact battle against South Africa in the opening Test.

"I’m not going to tell you, tactically, how we’re doing that," Rennie said. "But ⁠it’s been a real focus. They’re big men, and when they’re full of energy, if they can get into a tackle, it’s hard to get go-forward."