Boks keen to end five-year drought
It has been five long years between drinks, but South Africa are determined to end their drought in New Zealand.
The Springboks arrived in Wellington on Monday and have shifted their attention to their next match in the Rugby Championship, when they take on the mighty All Blacks in the New Zealand capital.
The Boks' last win in Aotearoa was a Tri-Nations clinching 32-29 triumph in Hamilton in 2009.
However, a more significant statistics is that Wellington has been the Springboks' most successful hunting ground in New Zealand – with three victories and a draw in 12 visits – the most recent success a 13-3 win in 1998. There were also a 24-12 victory in 1981 and a 8-3 triumph in 1956.
The draw was a scoreless (0-all) game in 1921.
The next best record for the Boks is in Auckland – two wins and a draw. However, both those wins go back to before the second World War (17-6 in 1937 and 9-5 in 1921), with an 18-all draw in 1994.
Christchurch have also produced two wins (19-16 in 1965 and 13-6 in 1937).
Hamilton (32-29 in 1998) and Carisbrook (30-28 in 2008) are South Africa's only other wins in New Zealand.
Despite their poor track record and this past Saturday's heartbreaking 23-24 loss against Australia in Perth, the Boks are determined to bounce back in their third successive away Test in the Rugby Championship.
Coach Heyneke Meyer readily admits they are facing their biggest challenge to date this season.
"We've always said we're striving to be the No.1 team in the world and what better way to measure yourself than by playing against New Zealand," Meyer said.
The Boks want are determined to bounce back from their disappointing last-minute defeat to Australia and have already moved on from the controversial refereeing decision that ruined a thrilling encounter – when Bryan Habana was sin-binned for a high tackle that was no more dangerous that one executed on Bok skipper Jean de Villiers just minutes earlier.
Meyer said this coming weekend's Test presents an opportunity to put that all behind them.
"What happened in Perth is behind us and we're looking forward to Saturday's match," the Bok coach said.
"We're facing the number one team in the world and we know that nothing but our best will be good enough to win here in Wellington.
"Our away record in the last couple of seasons is good and although we've got a lot of respect for the All Blacks, we believe we can win this match if we play like we know we can.
"It's been five years since the Springboks last beat the All Blacks in New Zealand and we've only won there [in NZ] three times since 1998, but we're confident that we have what it takes."
Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts reported no serious injury concerns and it's expected that all the players in the 30-man squad will take to the training field at Porirua Park on Tuesday.
