All Blacks set to unleash big guns against Boks
SPOTLIGHT: Assistant coach Jason Ryan says the All Blacks will send out their strongest “available” team for their World Cup warm-up match against the Springboks on Friday.
The two sides will clash at London’s Twickenham Stadium in what be both teams’ final chance to test combinations and fitness levels ahead of the big event in France.
There have been rumblings in the media that the All Blacks will be protecting some of their star players for the clash, but Ryan said that will not be the case.
“We’ll pick our best team available. We’re looking forward to a good physical contest against the Springboks, Ryan said.
“It’s exactly what we need heading into our first World Cup game.”
He added: “The Springboks, and Twickenham, it’s pretty unique so we’re looking forward to that.
“If you are hesitant in anything you do, that’s when your injuries happen, so that’s how we’re going to prepare.
“We’ve shown plenty of our game, as other teams have.
“”You’ve still got to get those momentum shifts and those big pressure moments which are quite important in Test matches, especially at this time of year heading into that World Cup which is right here now.”
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Last time around out @springboks 📸
Looking forward to taking to the field again at Twickenham!#AllBlacks pic.twitter.com/ktHmV20un1
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 19, 2023
Meanwhile, South Africa’s captain Siya Kolisi made his return to the rugby field over the weekend against Wales and Ryan believes his presence will just take the Boks to a higher level.
“He’s a spiritual leader, and it was great to see him back out there, to be fair,” said the forwards coach.
Potentially, it could be his last World Cup, and he’s obviously put a lot of work in to get himself right, and it’s a real credit to him.
“He’s someone they look to under pressure and they get a lot of energy from him. They’ve got a lot of trust in him as a captain and he’s won a World Cup for them too.”
Source: @AllBlacks & @RugbyPass
