'I guess they've earned that arrogance': Ex-All Black on Springboks supporters

Ex-All Black Justin Marshall has responded to the Springbok supporters laying claim to the favourites tag ahead of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test series, labelling the confidence “arrogance”, but stopping short of disputing its validity.

Marshall said he was “really enjoying the banter” he’s been subjected to since touching down in South Africa as part of Sky Sport’s commentary team, with plenty of locals letting him hear their thoughts on the upcoming four-Test series.

Beyond the local interactions, he’d seen pundits and podcasts framing their predictions in a way that made the Springboks clear favourites.

Making his usual appearance on The Good, The Bad & Rugby Australia & New Zealand podcast this week, Marshall was asked by host Andy Rowe what the feeling was on the ground, and whether “they feel like we’ve got a chance”.

The question came after Rowe saw a headline along the lines of ‘Can the All Blacks beat the Springboks?’ and for Rowe, “that felt like a level of arrogance that I’m not used to as an All Blacks fan, from the opposition.”

“Valid question from you, Andy,” Marshall responded. “It’s good to see that you were upset, and rightly so. But, I guess they’ve earned that arrogance with their success; back-to-back World Cup champions, and equally, they have had the number on us over the past few encounters. So, they’re on the right side of the ledger to have that arrogance.

“Generally, the chat over here has been one of excitement about the Test series that’s coming up. But equally, in terms of how they see the All Blacks here, the success that they’ve had against the All Blacks recently has given them that ability to say that they feel they deserve to be the favourites.

“A lot of the chat, with a slight tinge of arrogance about it as well, has been around if the All Blacks could draw the series, then that would be a result for the All Blacks. So, they are rubbing it in a little bit.”

With New Zealand owning just one win in the last five games between the two teams and three of the tour’s four games being played on South African soil, there are plenty of factors leaning in the Springboks’ favour.

Kiwi pundits are hoping new All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie and his brains trust have some tricks up their sleeves, with word out of camp this week suggesting New Zealand will look to keep the aggressive South African defence on its toes.

Dave Rennie said on Tuesday that his squad will need to “play at our best and force them to be below their best”, a sentiment that Marshall agreed with when the former Test halfback was sharing his prediction for the weekend’s result.

“This is what it’s about,” Marshall said. “This All Blacks team is capable of beating the world champions. We have to be perfect, we have to be at our best. They know that, the coaches know that, we all know that. But I’m really, really positive that we can be that team this weekend.”