Ben Smith: Why altitude is 'not an advantage' for the Boks
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand journalist Ben Smith is adamant that the Wallabies can finally break their 60-year-long drought against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld.
The Springboks open their Rugby Championship campaign with a match against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on July 8.
The Springboks have a proud record at Loftus Versfeld, especially against the Wallabies.
The two teams have met on seven occasions – stretching back to 1963 – with the Springboks being triumphant in all matches at this venue.
In fact, the home side has dominated the encounter, winning four of the seven encounters by 11 points or more.
The last time the two teams met at the venue was in 2016, when Boks recorded an 18-10 win.
Hosting the games at Loftus Versfeld supposedly gives the Springboks the advantage of altitude.
However, Rugbypass’ New Zealand-based scribe Ben Smith, tweeted that based on last year’s defeat to the All Blacks at Ellis Park, the Springboks do not have the altitude factor counting in their favour anymore.
The pundit revealed that Wallabies can ‘run them [the Boks] off the park’ given the Springboks have a large amount of overseas-based players, who are not used to the altitude – just like the All Blacks during the 35-23 win at Ellis Park.
During the historic Ellis Park encounter, the Springboks appeared to struggle with the tempo of the match, while the All Blacks took control from the kick-off, racing to a 15-0 lead.
The Boks gradually work their way into the match taking a 23-21 lead in the 68th minute.
However, the All Blacks found their second wind and picked up the tempo, scoring two tries in the last eight minutes for the win.
Smith revealed that similar to the All Blacks at Ellis Park, the Wallabies should ‘play fast’.
“Gas them in the last 20,” he tweeted
If Ellis Park last year taught us something, altitude is not an advantage for the Boks now. Overseas-based players not used to it & many of them. If the Wallabies are fit, they can run them off the park in Pretoria (if they execute). Must play fast. Gas them in last 20.
— Ben Smith (@bensmithrugby) June 30, 2023
The tweet has not gone down well with some users.
Why would the Wallabies be more suited to the highveld than the Springboks themselves? Don’t recall any wallabies playing in SA who’s used to the highveld.
— pieter snyman (@pietercs10) June 30, 2023
Nice one Ben …The Springboks would have training at altitude for more than 6 weeks. Straws clawing much?
— That Niels Momberg (@nielspm) June 30, 2023
While others seem to agree with him.
To be fair, it was SA 23-21 NZ until the 74th minute, and we’ve lost to the All Blacks 6 times at altitude (Ellis Park, Loftus & FNB Stadium) since 2010 – so it’s not like it’s ever really been an advantage against them…
— Sideline (@Sideline____) June 30, 2023
