Fitzpatrick: 'New Zealand will need to be on their game and bit of luck'
Sean Fitzpatrick, captain of the only New Zealand team to win a Test series in South Africa, told AFP on Wednesday the current All Blacks must get “everything right” to match that feat.
On Saturday, world champions and top-ranked South Africa and second-ranked New Zealand begin a four-Test series marketed as the “Greatest Rivalry” at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Cape Town, Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg and American city Baltimore will be the venues on the following three Saturdays in the first extended tour between the giants since 1996.
The advent of professionalism in rugby saw the demise of multi-match tours apart from the British and Irish Lions visiting Australia, New Zealand and South Africa over a 12-year period.
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Ahead of the first Test, the All Blacks scored 22 tries when beating the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls franchises.
“New Zealand will need to be right on their game, they cannot afford yellow cards or bad scrums,” Fitzpatrick said at the unveiling of the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ trophy in Johannesburg.
“They need to get everything right, which is difficult, but that is what Test rugby against the best is all about.
“They need a bit of luck too. Ideally you want to go 1-0 up so you can really pile on the pressure for the second Test in Cape Town.
“The Springboks definitely have a lot of options in how they want to play – their defensive line speed, the size of their pack, their ability to break tackles.
“But the All Blacks know all that, (head coach) Dave Rennie knows that,” said the 1987 Rugby World Cup-winning hooker capped 92 times before retiring in 1997.
“The Springboks also have some great attacking prowess, so I don’t see them slowing down the game as being to their advantage.
“New Zealand will need to be incredibly well-prepared because they are up against a very good attack.
“The Springboks won’t go away, but this is what you play for – taking on the double world champions and the best team in the world right now.
Fitzpatrick was pleased that the transition from Scott Robertson, who departed after an end-of-season review last January, to Rennie had been smooth.
“I’m quite comfortable with where the All Blacks are, they have definitely moved on from the start of the year,” he said.
“There is a good feeling around the camp, good messaging coming out with Dave Rennie being measured in what he has said.
“His focus will be on the World Cup and what better preparation than against the Springboks? It is a real bonus to be here for five or six weeks, 14 months out from the World Cup.
Before Fitzpatrick-led New Zealand won a 1996 Test series 2-1, the All Blacks had lost four and drawn one in South Africa.
