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Biggest All Blacks/Springboks test match since the last World Cup?
Matches between the All Blacks and the Springboks are always momentous, but this weekend’s match in Wellington is surely the biggest game they have played against one another since the 2015 World Cup semi-final.
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Both sides will face each other for the last time this weekend before they meet in their opening match of the World Cup pool stages in September.
Head coaches Steve Hansen and Rassie Erasmus have had different approaches to this match though. Hansen has downplayed the importance of this fixture, while Erasmus has suggested that the side that wins will come away with a psychological edge. It looks as though there is a number of people on Twitter that agree with the former.
There is added importance to this fixture as well, as it sees a repeat of the Springboks’ victory in Wellington last year. Hansen has equally been coy in saying that this is not a revenge mission for the All Blacks, but it must be in the back of many players’ minds.
As well as their differing outlook to the match, the coaches have also had a different approach in terms of squad selection. Although it is impossible to ever have a weak All Blacks side, Hansen is trying new things out. He is playing Beauden Barrett at fullback for the first time since 2013, allowing Richie Mo’unga to start at fly-half. Equally, he has rested some key players such as Ardie Savea and Sam Cane, who are likely to be in the squad which face the Springboks at the World Cup, as well as dropping Aaron Smith to the bench.
On the other hand, Erasmus has named as strong a squad as he can, after resting the bulk of his squad last week against Australia. Many see this as South Africa’s ‘A’ team, although captain Siya Kolisi and winger Aphiwe Dyantyi are still to return. He sent the majority of this squad to New Zealand early to prepare for this match, as he has clearly made this fixture a priority to win.
But with a strong team comes the pressure to win, and that is why there is a solid portion of Springboks fans that think their team should emerge victorious. Meanwhile, despite being at home, New Zealand have the luxury of calling this an experimental team should they lose. Still, the sense is that both sets of fans see this game as pivotal ahead of the World Cup.
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This is what has been said:
https://twitter.com/white_bati/status/1154342752634564608?s=20
https://twitter.com/Cornelius_Mybrg/status/1154360742713446405?s=20
https://twitter.com/rugbyallout/status/1154367743384309760?s=20
https://twitter.com/JacquesdeWet1/status/1154113752565989376?s=20
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https://twitter.com/jacque0001/status/1153561765415985154?s=20
https://twitter.com/Sana_Govender/status/1153771457517953025?s=20
https://twitter.com/FLengoati/status/1154232527277699072?s=20
https://twitter.com/ddt_golf25/status/1154280334713872384?s=20
https://twitter.com/SLOGANGOV/status/1154333099951624192?s=20
Not only is this game crucial in terms of the pool stage in the World Cup, but this could very well be the final in a few month’s time, as both teams will go their separate ways after the pool stages. That only adds to the importance of this fixture.
While the All Blacks have reigned supreme in World Rugby over the past four years, the Springboks have had a tumultuous time. But there is no denying that they are a force to be reckoned with again, which is why this match is so eagerly anticipated.
Comments on RugbyPass
Havili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
61 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
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