Advantage New Zealand: Cape Town loves the All Blacks
All Black #1218, Wallace Sititi, son of former Manu Samoa and Hurricanes loose forward Semo Sititi, may not have the fondest memories of Cape Town.
Sititi, having made his debut against Fiji in San Diego in July 2024, was thrown in the deep end as a rookie blindside flank against the Springboks in Cape Town during the 2024 Rugby Championship.
The All Blacks lost 12-18 at Cape Town Stadium.
Now 23, he is back in Cape Town for the opening Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour match against the Stormers on Friday.
At just 21 years old, Sititi became the youngest player named in the 2024 All Blacks squad and went on to be named the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Known for his physicality, work rate, and leadership potential, he is viewed as one of New Zealand’s most promising young loose forwards.
The All Black said the games against the South African franchises, the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions are being treated as ‘Test matches’.
However, they are also opportunities to put your hand up for a Test starting spot.
“We know what the quality is like here [in South Africa] and we’ll enjoy the opportunity to put our best foot forward,” he told Jan de Koning.
Sititi was speaking pitchside at Athlone Stadium, as the tourists prepare to kick off their tour against the Stormers.
Matching up front against the Stormers is going to be key on Friday.
(WATCH as All Black loose forward Wallace Sititi talks about his return to Cape Town, two years after his disappointing outing in a city known for its extraordinary high number of New Zealand supporters……)
The class of 2026 also tapped into the IP of the legendary All Black squad of 1996, who made history by being the first and only New Zealand team to win a Test series on South African soil.
“They told us to enjoy the tour,” Sititi said, adding: “It is the best time of our lives and that is what we are going to do.”
Given the welcome they received last Friday, when more than 4000 All Black fans greeted them at the Cape Town stadium, the loose forward said the Mother City is the best place to start such an historic trip.
“One thing we know is that Cape Town loves the All Blacks,” he said.
“We definitely felt the love here in the last few days, and we are extremely grateful for everyone that has reached out.
“Hopefully we’ll see a few more of them on Friday.”
It was a trial by fire when All Blacks coach Scott Robertson selected the young loose forward to start at blindside flank against Pieter-Steph du Toit and the Springboks at Cape Town.
Sititi has overcome a ‘scary’ concussion and a minor ankle complaint to reintegrate into the All Blacks environment fully.
He suffered a severe double head knock on June 6, during the Chiefs’ Super Rugby play-off win against the Reds.
He was knocked unconscious following a collision with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto’s shoulder and spent time in the hospital, missing the Super Rugby Final.
After clearing strict protocols, he made his return off the bench in July, playing 27 minutes in the All Blacks’ victory over France in Christchurch.
He admitted to heightened nerves following the “scary” ordeal, which initially left his mother wanting him to step away from the sport entirely.
Sititi has 21 Test caps for the All Blacks.
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