Why All Blacks are going 'full throttle' against Boks
REACTION: South Africa must expect another fierce onslaught from New Zealand in their World Cup warm-up match at Twickenham on Friday.
All Black coach Ian Foster made no secret that his team will go “full throttle” against the Springboks in the final World Cup warm-up match at Twickenham on Friday.
A crowd of 82,000 is expected to watch the first match between the superpowers at Twickenham since the All Blacks edged the Springboks in a 2015 World Cup semifinal before lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy.
“This is our final game before the World Cup and this Test is critical in our preparation,” Foster told a media briefing in London.
“With just two weeks to go, it’s a significant opportunity to get us battle-ready for the start of the tournament.
“These games are always intense and physically challenging, and I’m sure this one will be no different.”
The All Blacks caught World Cup holders the Springboks cold when they last met in July, with New Zealand winning 35-20 in Auckland.
The All Blacks launch the World Cup against hosts France, another of the favourites to take this year’s title, at the Stade de France on September 8.
New Zealand and South Africa are in the same half of the draw for this edition.
Depending on pool results, the only teams to win the World Cup three times could meet each other again in the quarterfinals.
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The All Blacks have decided not to wrap any players in cotton wool, with coach Foster insisting they had to approach this Test properly before the World Cup.
“That’s your opinion, [saying it’s] the first choice,” Foster said.
“We took some guys out of the Dunedin Test and it’s important that, we think the gap between the last Test and the France was too big.
“I won’t be protecting anyone,” Foster said.
“You don’t win World Cups by putting people in cotton wool.”
He swept aside any concerns about key players getting hurt so close to the World Cup, saying “my heart is not in my mouth”.
“Some things are part of the game,” Foster told reporters during a press conference in London.
“If you go in half-hearted and worrying about the consequences, those things are almost guaranteed to happen.
“The same thing is going to happen in the World Cup.
“You don’t want injuries in any game.
“This is ideal for us.
“It’s the sort of build-up we need to make sure we keep climbing our performance levels.
“The only way to go into this is full throttle.”
New Zealand have made three changes to the starting side that put on a show against the Springboks in Auckland last month, and they’re all in the forwards.
Veterans Dane Coles and Sam Whitelock will start against the Boks, and so will blindside flank Luke Jacobson.
The backline, which includes Will Jordan on the right wing, is the same.
“Clearly we’ve got two or three players that we’re looking after from an injury perspective but the rest of it, it’s a great Test match two weeks before a World Cup.
“The only way to go into this is full throttle.”
