'We all know how big this is': Erasmus' specific plea to Springbok fans

Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus wants the Ellis Park crowd to remain quiet during the All Blacks’ Haka challenge before the titanic first Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test kicks off in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Opposition fans have increasingly attempted to help their team by trying to negate the impact of the Haka by singing and making noise while the All Blacks players deliver one of the sport’s most iconic moments that has become seemingly more theatrical every year.

Erasmus highlighted the reception New Zealand received ahead of their opening tour match against the Stormers in Cape Town as an example of what he would like to see in Johannesburg. “We all know how big this is,” Erasmus told local media ahead of the first or four Tests in the series.

“I would love it if the people at Ellis Park did the same as the guys in Cape Town, where it’s quiet, where we hear the Haka 100 per cent, because I think it’s something special.”

New Zealand have already spent more than two weeks in South Africa, completing their provincial programme with victories over the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls with national anthems followed by the Haka key aspects of the build up to kick off.

Fixture

Internationals

South Africa

08:10

22 Aug 26

New Zealand

All Stats and Data

He added: “We all appreciate and respect what this series means.

“We know how good the All Blacks are. Since 2018, when they were leading the world, we’ve always wondered when they’re going to beat us again, and they will beat us again in future, but hopefully not this weekend.

“Some guys will face the All Blacks for the first time, and they’ve heard from their team-mates how intense it is. This is a great occasion and we’re all looking forward to it.”

Erasmus talked about own childhood love of the game, where he admired All Blacks players like Zinzan Brooke and Murray Mexted and is not upset that some South Africans will be supporting the opposition. “There’s no problem with people supporting the All Blacks. Who are we to tell them they can’t? So, we’re all good.”