Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry kicks off in earnest on Saturday at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, when South Africa and New Zealand meet in the first of four test matches.
It is the 111th meeting between the two sides, and it is not a stretch to say that the Springboks are the favourites going into the clash.
The Boks have beaten the All Blacks five times in the last six encounters, including in the World Cup final in 2023, and most recently in Wellington last year, where the Green and Gold handed the Kiwis their biggest-ever test defeat.
The Springbok starting fifteen has 850 caps within their ranks, and there is a further 193 caps on the bench. That sort of experience is the result of meticulous planning from the Springbok coach, Rassie Erasmus.
His captain for the first test, Pieter-Steph Du Toit, says that with all that experience around him he can focus on his own game.
“We have got a really good system and with all our coaches and the players around me and around everyone it makes it much easier we have got so many senior players and players that have played alot of test matches for the springboks being able to captain is a huge honour and a privilege but it doesn’t change anything for me I am still focused on my game and what I have to do on Saturday is play well and the rest will take care of itself.”
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is the first time the Springboks have hosted New Zealand on a full-blown tour in thirty years.
In 1996, the visitors took the tour, but this current iteration of the Boks believe they have similar experiences which will serve them well against the All Blacks over the course of four test matches.
Assistant Coach Mzwandile Stick points to a victorious British and Irish Lions series in 2021, and successive World Cup runs in 2019 and 2023.
“The closest thing to probably the greatest rivalry that we are going to be starting now is probably the British and Irish Lions series, where every game counts and also if you look at the playoffs in the World Cup, our mindset for these games we have also started to draw some strength from those experiences that we had with those other teams at the World Cup.”
Springboks assistant coach Mzandile Stick says they know a tough challenge against New Zealand awaits them but insists that the team has improved since winning the World Cup.
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The build-up to this first test has been dominated by talk around the breakdowns, and Du Toit says it is imperative that the forwards stay switched on for the entire match.
“We know New Zealand is going to bring it in intensity and we really believe the lineouts and scrums is going to be something where we are going to have to perform well they are going to try and test us and again at certain points where New Zealand is going to try find gaps and where the forwards normally switch off we know they are quite fast and skillful players so they are definitely going to try and exploit that and come with good plans as well so I would say it is probably to try and stay awake and don’t get caught out.”
The series begins at an important stadium to both teams – the Springboks will be defending their spiritual rugby home, while the All Blacks will look to banish the ghosts of 1995.
Video | Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series | Boks read for first All Blacks test: