Former All Black skipper Taine Randell has urged New Zealand to get their retaliation in first when they take on South Africa here on Saturday.
The South Africans arrived in Dunedin from Australia late on Monday
with howls of angry criticism still ringing in their ears after last weekend’s 29-9 defeat against the Wallabies.
Australia coach Eddie Jones branded the South Africans a ”disgrace for international rugby” after allegations of spitting, eye-gouging and biting following the Brisbane Test.
Springbok forwards Bakkies Botha and Robbie Kempson were both banned after a game which again put South Africa’s disciplinary record under the spotlight.
But while South Africa’s management has insisted they do not condone violent play, former New Zealand skipper Randell is urging the All Blacks not to take any chances in this weekend’s Test.
Randell said the All Blacks would be wise to make their case early in the game. ”They have to go out there with the intention of being the bully, rather than being bullied,” Randell said.
”The Afrikaner wants to bully you so you have to get into them first -before they get into you,” said Randell, describing South Africa’s strong-arm approach as ”borderline”.
”They [South Africa] don’t kick or eye-gouge but they are pretty borderline. Mind you, you have to be at that level.”
The rivalry between New Zealand and South Africa is arguably the fiercest in international rugby, and matches between the two teams have been littered with examples of aggressive conflict erupting into all-out mayhem.
In the 1956 series New Zealand’s selectors picked former amateur heavyweight boxer Kevin Skinner specifically to act as an enforcer in the pack, with predictably bruising consequences. Four years later, the two sides engaged in the infamous ‘Battle of Boet Erasmus’ in Port Elizabeth, where a series of running brawls marred proceedings.
The most notorious incident of recent times was the 1994 biting of New Zealand hooker Sean Fitzpatrick by Springbok prop Johan Le Roux. Le Roux was subsequently banned for 19 months.
The advent of the citing system and the increasing number of television cameras at grounds has reduced foul play in recent times.
New Zealand reserve hooker Kevin Mealamu said on Tuesday the All Blacks were not expecting illegal tactics from the South Africans but they would be on red alert.
”We’re playing for the jersey and it’s a proud jersey so we generally don’t take a backward step,” Mealamu said.
”But you can’t afford to try to sort things out by yourself or you’ll find
yourself getting into trouble. You can always try and go to the referee.”
This weekend’s Test has been given an added edge by the contrasting fortunes of the two teams. New Zealand put Australia and South Africa to the sword in their opening Tri Nations matches, registering 50-plus points in each of their away games.
South Africa has had a scratchy season, with narrow wins over Argentina and Scotland followed by an encouraging victory against Australia at home before they were thrashed by New Zealand.
Saturday’s game is also potentially a sneak preview of this year’s World Cup quarter-finals — the two sides could well meet in Melbourne in the last eight if the form book goes to plan. – Sapa-AFP