Two of rugby’s most passionate rivals, the All Blacks and Springboks, launch the Tri-Nations series in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday in a showdown that puts the world number one ranking on the line.
South Africa ended New Zealand’s three-year reign at the top when they won the World Cup last October, where Tri-Nations rivals the All Blacks and Australia, now ranked two and three in the world, lost in the quarterfinals.
But as tough as South Africa may be, retaining 10 players from the World Cup final in Saturday’s squad against a depleted All Blacks, history is stacked against them.
The All Blacks go into this Test defending a world record run of 29 home Test victories, and they haven’t lost at home to the Springboks for 10 years — statistics that rile Springbok captain John Smit.
”It certainly does put a bit of fire in the belly because it’s a box that hasn’t been ticked,” he told a pre-match press conference on Thursday.
”There’ve been opportunities before this one where we’ve had some close games and been pipped right at the end and been heartbroken.
”It’s not an easy venue to get Test victories; we certainly are aware of the challenges ahead and we’ve come here motivated to turn the tide.”
South Africa warmed up for the Tri-Nations by disposing of Six-Nations titleholders Wales as well as Italy while the All Blacks, looking to redeem themselves after their World Cup fiasco, have beaten England and Ireland.
Both sides showed only patches of brilliance against below-strength opposition, leaving considerable room for improvement now their Test season is about to begin in earnest.
In a surprise move, the Springboks named their side on Thursday with Joe van Niekerk at the back of the scrum while relegating World Cup match winners Percy Montgomery and Francois Steyn to the bench.
Fullback Montgomery and utility back Steyn kicked the Springboks to the 15-6 win over England with five penalties in the World Cup final.
Van Niekerk’s inclusion ahead of form Super 14 players Pierre Spies and Ryan Kankowski comes as questions are raised about whether the Springboks still have the forward superiority they have boasted in recent years.
Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha continue to set the benchmark for line-out standards but in the looming scrum battle the All Blacks appear to have the edge by the way they overpowered England in back-to-back Tests last month.
The return of prop Tony Woodcock can only further strengthen the front row, where South Africa have to rebuild without retired Os du Randt.
All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith targeted domination up front as the decisive area in the Test.
”To beat the Boks you’ve got to compete well up front. They’re not a team you can lose the forward battle to and beat, they tend to smother you,” he said.
But Smith said no amount of preparation and advice could prepare the new All Blacks for the intense physical nature of a Springboks Test.
”We’ve tried to replicate it within our build-up; we’ve had quite an intense week but I’m sure the first few minutes are going to really tell on some players and we’re going to have to adjust quickly.”
If the All Blacks have a perceived weakness it is in the loose forwards, where inspirational captain Richie McCaw is injured and the powerful Jerry Collins has retired from Test rugby.
The back three now consists of stand-in captain Rodney So’oialo, a 44-Test veteran, and newcomers Jerome Kaino and Adam Thompson, who have six Tests between them.
But imposing South African loose forward Schalk Burger said they still carried an intimidating aura.
”It was never fun playing against Jerry, he was a very tough man, but I don’t think they’ve lost anything,” Burger said.
”At the end of the day they’re the All Blacks and they’re going to face up to a proper Test match. I don’t think they’ve lost any of the intimidation factor.”
Teams:
All Blacks: Mils Muliaina; Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Rudi Wulf; Dan Carter, Andy Ellis; Jerome Kaino, Rodney So’oialo (captain), Adam Thomson; Ali Williams, Brad Thorn; Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Anthony Boric, Sione Lauaki, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Leon MacDonald.
South Africa: Conrad Jantjes; Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Butch James, Ricky Januarie; Joe van Niekerk, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger; Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha; CJ van der Linde, John Smit (captain), Gurthro Steenkamp. Reserves: Bismarck du Plessis, Brian Mujati, Andries Bekker, Luke Watson, Bolla Conradie, Francois Steyn, Percy Montgomery. — AFP
