'They love their confrontation': All Black star dissects Bok challenge
SPOTLIGHT: All Black loose forward Wallace Sititi remembers last year’s Test against the Springboks in Cape Town like it was yesterday.
The 22-year-old made his first Test start in that 12-18 defeat, and the physical nature of that outing has stuck with him.
He will be in contention for a start in this weekend’s Test at Eden Park, and it could be an opportunity for him to remind everyone why he became World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2024.
“They’re big boys, love their confrontation, love the set-piece,” said Sititi.
“They’re a quality side for a reason, and if we’re not on our game, we’re not going to put in a good fight.
“One thing I learned was you’ve got to make sure you win all the moments; little mistakes will cost you.”
That 2024 match allowed Sititi to follow in his father’s (former Samoan international Semo Sititi) footsteps in facing the Springboks
“It’s special. Hopefully, I get that chance this weekend. Growing up, you watch the All Blacks and Springboks play, and I watched Manu Samoa as well with my father playing the Springboks as well,” said Sititi.
“To go up against a quality side like the Springboks, it’s always a pleasure, and it’s a great challenge.
“It’s a big match, no doubt about it. As players, we talk about these big moments; it’s what we work for and what we dream of.”
The All Blacks will be using the days ahead to cram in every bit of preparation they can for the big showdown.
“The Springboks are a quality side, the defending champions for a reason,” he said.
“They’ve been on top of their game for a long time now.
“It’s a huge opportunity for us, something that we walk towards, but then again, we’ve still got a few more days, so we’ll build into that.”
Additional reporting: @RugbyPass
