Losses to the Springboks will be a learning experience, not a disaster

Thank goodness we’re no longer in the time of biased referees, pathetic training paddocks, apartheid and blatant racism against NZ’s Polynesian players, and terrible hotels like on past New Zealand tours of South Africa in the bad old days.

The 1996 tour loss was an embarrassment for the world champions at the time and a monumental and life-changing win for New Zealand. But I don’t think there'll be any such embarrassment for whichever team loses this tour, given the quality and trajectory of both teams.

Most honest and smart NZ fans would be stoked with 1 win out of 3 games in the Republic, such is the quality and depth of the almighty Springboks who are deservedly the world’s best team so far. But Scotland this year and Australia last year showed the blueprint to beat them. Not to forget that clever win at Eden Park by the AB’s last year.

The biggest thing is the mental aspect. Let’s say that the All Blacks lose 1-3. That means their record against the Springboks since the last World Cup is 2-6. 2-8 in the last 10 match ups. That is a sign of clear dominance, although when it comes to next year it might not matter as of course anything is possible.

No one can predict how this four-Test series against the Springboks will end. On paper, it represents one of the greatest challenges the All Blacks have faced in the professional era.

Yet, for the first time in a long while, there is genuine reason for confidence. Not because victory is guaranteed, but because the All Blacks once again have a proven leader at the helm: Dave Rennie.

New Zealand may well lose all four Tests. Each game could be decided by only a handful of points, and that wouldn’t be a surprise against a Springbok side operating at such an exceptional level. But under Razor and his coaching staff, the outcome would almost certainly have been far more brutal. Defeats by 20 or even 30 points would have been the expectation rather than the exception.

Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks never truly feared Razor’s All Blacks. South African pundits and former Springboks openly laughed at the prospect of the series, many confidently predicting a straightforward 4-0 whitewash. Some even argued there was barely any sporting contest to be had.

That mood has changed. Since Rennie took charge, there is noticeably more caution and far less certainty coming from the South African camp. And that, in itself, is already a significant victory for New Zealand. Before winning trophies, the All Blacks had to reclaim something they had gradually lost over recent years: the respect of their greatest rivals.

From a Saffa side, we cannot wait for the ABs to arrive. They have and always will be our main rival and from our side there is nothing to lose but only to win having them here. Personally don’t care too much if we lose a bunch of games, as they are going to be amazing to watch. I am tired of all the Northern Hemisphere control of the rules, the comps, and who plays who when. Am also tired of all the hype around the French even if they play amazing rugger, as they don’t respect the Boks and ABs and the South. They treat us as an afterthought as if playing us down south is an irritation and a waste of their time. Respect must be earned. The ABs have our respect.

Happy to get that off my chest. 😂

Cannot wait for the ABs to arrive whoever wins

Since when did we start talking about loosing before the tour has even started?

Yes it will be a tall order but surely we’re aiming to win?

What is the likelihood of the AB’s mid week team losing against the URC teams. The games against the Stormers and the Lions could be interesting. Neither team have a high number of starting Springboks. Will Evan Roos, Mchunu, van Heerden, AH Venter, Dixon, Porthen, Sacha play for the Stormers?

Will Faf play for the Lions? The URC teams could be stacked with players from the Bok B & C teams that played in the Nation Championship.

Hey Dave. I got used to, apart from the odd blip, owning the Boks during the Richie and Co years. The last few years of being owned by them have been tough on my blood pressure. Can we get back to the former pretty please. In seriousness considering how long he's had with the team and how young a lot of the squad is, is be stoked with 2-2. We might just come out of that tour with 2 starting worthy teams depth wise.

France pushed the ABs

I agree these All Blacks look far better than they have in a few years, and that's great for rugby. But I think it's a bit premature to crown them before they've faced the biggest test in world rugby.

I think South Africa isn't just another tour—it's the benchmark. The Springboks don't just test your attack; they test your character, your discipline, your set piece, your defence, and whether your game plan still works when you're under relentless pressure for 80 minutes.

If the All Blacks come through that challenge, they'll deserve every bit of the praise. But until then, potential is still just potential.

The Springboks don't care what people think you might become. They care what you can do when the pressure is real. That's where reputations are made.

Losses to the Springboks will be a learning experience, not a disaster

Losses to NZ would also be great learning experiences. Rassie said as much.

Rassie knows that NZ is a huge threat at the RWC, and he would love to get a comprehensive look at how they are doing, what direction they are headed, and what the individual players are about.

He also knows that there is no team on the planet that will stretch the Boks, over four games, as much as NZ will. If you are looking for an opponent that will find your weaknesses, look no further than NZ. These are games that will test the SA team in new and interesting ways, and Rassie explicitly wants that, because runaway victories by very rotated Bok teams in the Nations Championship do not deliver the pressure that you want.

Honestly, I would say both sides would be OK with a 2-2 split in the tour, and a 3-1 either way would be disappointing without being the end of the world. If either team were to come away with a 4-0 then that’s a different story.

Lol… they haven’t landed yet and the … “if we lose it’s ok because” excuses are already ringing… this is funny.

I do wonder whether the Boks are regretting agreeing to this upcoming tour - not because they will lose, but because win, lose or draw, the ABs have a lot more to gain in terms of next year’s RWC than the Boks do.