VIDEO: 'The magnitude of the game excites me'
The build-up has been overshadowed by the talk of history and records, but on Saturday, the only statistics that will matter is the numbers on the scoreboard.
That, succinctly put, was the message of Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick ahead of their face-off with the All Blacks at the iconic Eden Park stadium in Auckland.
South Africa will chase history at New Zealand’s fortress in this Rugby Championship Round Three outing.
The All Blacks top the standings after two rounds, but only by a bonus point, with all four teams having registered a win and a loss in a topsy-turvy start to the annual Southern Hemisphere competition.
Coming off a 23-29 loss to the Pumas – their first defeat on Argentina soil – Scott Robertson’s New Zealand would have their aura further eroded if beaten by the Springboks in Auckland, where the hosts last lost in 1994.
The world’s top two nations square off at Eden Park, where New Zealand’s unbeaten streak stands at 50 Tests.
Rugby was still an amateur game when the All Blacks last lost there, to France, and have gone on to construct one of the sport’s most extraordinary records.
Adding to the occasion, inspirational All Blacks back row forward Ardie Savea will play his 100th Test.
A win or draw would lift the Springboks past their opponents and back on top of the world rankings.
Victory would also be South Africa’s first in Auckland since 1937 and would extend their winning run against New Zealand to five matches, including the 2023 World Cup Final.
Bok captain Jesse Kriel, explaining that it is another opportunity to play in the Green and Gold, says the magnitude of the game is something that excites him.
(WATCH as Springbok captain Jesse Kriel reveals what motivates him ahead of the Eden Park face-off against the All Blacks…..)
“You want to be involved in the biggest Test matches and this is right up there,” he told @rugby365com, adding: “We want to test ourselves against the best, be that in your position or on the world rankings.
“It is the ultimate test, and that is what gets you excited as a player.”
He also pointed out that in terms of the Rugby Championship – with just two points separating New Zealand in first place (six points) and Argentina in fourth – this is an extremely important game.
“It is a game that we have been looking forward to for a long time.
“It doesn’t get any bigger and more exciting than this.”
Stick played down the historical stats and number-crunching that marked the build-up.
He reiterated the well-documented fact that only three players in the match-23 for the Test – Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi and Willie le Roux – had played at the stadium before, where the Boks last beat the All Blacks in 1937.
“We focus more on rugby statistics rather than history, because that’s not where a game is won or lost,” Stick told the traditional pre-match captain’s media briefing.
“Only three people in this group have featured in a game at Eden Park, so for us it will all be about what happens tomorrow [Saturday].
“This is about the legacy of and playing for the Springbok jersey, and we cannot ask for a better occasion than this.
“The key for us is to represent our country with pride and dignity and to make our people proud.”
Speaking about the vibe in New Zealand in the build-up to the match, Stick said the atmosphere in Auckland is electric.
“Everyone is talking about the match,” he told the media.
“We are playing at a historical venue for them, and Ardie Savea is playing his 100th Test match, and we’d like to congratulate him on that achievement.
“That said, the focus for us will be on trying to improve from where we left off against Australia.
“This is a massive game for us, and we want to play the best we can and test ourselves against the best side in the world.”
@king365ed
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