All Black legend on Bok fans: 'They've earned that arrogance'
SPOTLIGHT: Former New Zealand scrumhalf Justin Marshall said the South African public “earned the arrogance” to believe the Springboks are favourites ahead of the first Test against the All Blacks in the Greatest Rivalry series.
*Also read: VIDEO: All Blacks rubbish ‘underdogs’ tag ahead of Bok Test
Marshall responded to GoodBadRugbyANZ Podcast host Andy Rowe, who stated he saw a headline on a South African podcast titled “Can the All Blacks beat the Springboks?”
Rowe said he felt it was a level of arrogance he, as an All Blacks fan, isn’t used to from South Africans.
Marshall responded and highlighted the recent encounters between the two foes, as to why South Africans might feel that they are in the pound seats to win the four-match series.
“I guess they’ve earned that arrogance with their success,” Marshall said.
“They’re back-to-back World Champions, and equally they’ve had our [New Zealand’s] number over the past few encounters.”
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The 81-time capped No.9 opened up about his overall experience whilst currently on tour in South Africa for the Greatest Rivalry Series between the world’s top two-ranked sides.
“They’re on the right side of the ledger to have that arrogance, but generally the chat over here [in South Africa] has been the excitement of the upcoming Test series.
“Equally, in terms of how they see the All Blacks here, and the success they had against them recently gave them the 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 very much been around that if the All Blacks could draw the series, that would very much be a [positive] result for them.”
