DYNASTIES COME AND go, eras end, and records get shattered.
This is the nature of sport, and even in a relatively small elite pool like rugby, the balance of power swings through the years.
There was a time New Zealand Rugby stood as not just the undoubted kings of rugby, but one of the most recognisable ‘brands’ in world sport, the All Blacks occupying rarified air alongside the likes of Manchester United, the New York Yankees and Chicago Bulls.
That status still holds, but some of the aura has faded. It’s been 11 years since the world’s most famous rugby team won a Rugby World Cup. During that time, Ireland and Argentina have both won their first Tests home and away against New Zealand. There was a time even non-rugby fans could name Jonah Lomu or Dan Carter, but are any of the current crop world stars outside their sport?
New Zealand Rugby is far from dead and buried, but as another rebuild starts under the guidance of Dave Rennie, the All Blacks have ground to make up if they are to end their World Cup wait in Australia next year.
Specifically, they need to catch the Springboks, who have established themselves as the game’s standard-setters since Rassie Erasmus stepped in to save South African rugby in 2018.
That starts with Saturday’s opening Test of the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ series [KO 4.10pm, Sky Sports Action], an eight-match tour leading to four Tests between the Boks and All Blacks – three on South African soil, one in Baltimore. I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry, in the event of a drawn series the newly-created ‘Greatest Rivalry trophy’ can be split in two and shared by the two nations.
This is a rivalry which the Springboks currently dominate. Back-to-back world champions, Erasmus’ men have won five of their last six against New Zealand, while last year, they handed the All Blacks their biggest-ever defeat, a 43-10 hosing in Wellington backed up by 10 further Test wins on the bounce, beating France, Ireland, England, Scotland and Argentina along the way.
It is the Springboks who push the envelope and set the trends in rugby, everything from 7/1 benches to traffic lights in the coaching box and open-play mauls.
And in typical South African style, they’ve been turning up the heat ahead of the opening Test. On Monday, Erasmus joined former referee Jaco Peyper, who now works for the Boks under the wonderfully rugby title of ‘law adviser’, to defend accusations the team deliberately try to slow the game down.
Assistant coach Felix Jones further raised the heat a day later, claiming South Africa’s URC sides had been caught out by some ‘themes’ in the All Blacks’ play during their tour games, including ‘tucked shoulders’ and ‘trying to lift a leg or going off feet’ when the home sides were attacking through driving mauls. A very public plea toward the series’ referees.
Maybe this approach is a sign of the danger Erasmus senses from a potentially resurgent New Zealand, but even in these early days of the Rennie era, you wonder what a damaging South African series might mean for his All Blacks.
They have been making big adjustments coming out of Scott Robertson’s underwhelming tenure. Ruben Love is the lively new 10 at the heart of Rennie’s more open, attacking style of rugby. Cam Roigard is more established at scrum-half (20 caps) but this will be his first start against South Africa.
Cam Roigard has been excellent at scrum-half for New Zealand. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
Damian McKenzie has been backed as Rennie’s first-choice fullback, with Beauden Barrett – the starting out-half for last year’s Rugby Championship and Nations Series – now struggling to even make a matchday squad. An improved ruck speed has been at the heart of New Zealand’s slick early showings under Rennie, as has a greater focus on dominating their opponents physically, opting for a more meaty back five.
Rennie has largely reverted to the side that put 40 points on Ireland last month, with Fabian Holland’s selection ahead of Patrick Tuipulotu in the second row the sole change to the starting XV.
The Boks have been moving things on too. Saturday’s half-back pairing of Grant Williams and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu represents speed and creativity, a move away from the more controlled and metronomic half-backs of old – perhaps to match the more “fast, intense” approach Erasmus is expecting from the visitors.
But there is some fear the Boks are coming into this one a little cold, having last played against the Pumas two weeks ago. That fixture saw Siya Kolisi, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth and Feinberg-Mngomezulu all return from injury, so there’s a possibility of a little rust this weekend.
De Jager is not involved for the opening Test, while Kolisi also misses out despite Erasmus stating he ‘could have selected’ his captain following a hamstring problem. With Kolisi in the stands, Stormers man Paul de Villiers (23) comes in to win his fourth cap.
The All Blacks have warmed up with high-scoring wins against the Stormers (38-21), Sharks (54-0) and Bulls (50-19), but this is where the serious business starts.
Expect it to be fast, expect it to be ferocious.
SOUTH AFRICA: Damian Willemse; Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Grant Williams; Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Wilco Louw; Eben Etzebeth, Ruan Nortje; Paul de Villiers, Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt), Jasper Wiese.
Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zachary Porthen, Cobus Wiese, Andre Esterhuizen, Marco van Staden, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok.
NEW ZEALAND: Damian McKenzie; Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby; Ruben Love, Cam Roigard; Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax; Josh Lord, Fabian Holland; Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson, Ardie Savea (capt).
Replacements:Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Anton Segner, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Leroy Carter.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Tensions rise as Springboks and All Blacks brace for explosive series opener
DYNASTIES COME AND go, eras end, and records get shattered.
This is the nature of sport, and even in a relatively small elite pool like rugby, the balance of power swings through the years.
There was a time New Zealand Rugby stood as not just the undoubted kings of rugby, but one of the most recognisable ‘brands’ in world sport, the All Blacks occupying rarified air alongside the likes of Manchester United, the New York Yankees and Chicago Bulls.
That status still holds, but some of the aura has faded. It’s been 11 years since the world’s most famous rugby team won a Rugby World Cup. During that time, Ireland and Argentina have both won their first Tests home and away against New Zealand. There was a time even non-rugby fans could name Jonah Lomu or Dan Carter, but are any of the current crop world stars outside their sport?
New Zealand Rugby is far from dead and buried, but as another rebuild starts under the guidance of Dave Rennie, the All Blacks have ground to make up if they are to end their World Cup wait in Australia next year.
Specifically, they need to catch the Springboks, who have established themselves as the game’s standard-setters since Rassie Erasmus stepped in to save South African rugby in 2018.
That starts with Saturday’s opening Test of the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ series [KO 4.10pm, Sky Sports Action], an eight-match tour leading to four Tests between the Boks and All Blacks – three on South African soil, one in Baltimore. I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry, in the event of a drawn series the newly-created ‘Greatest Rivalry trophy’ can be split in two and shared by the two nations.
This is a rivalry which the Springboks currently dominate. Back-to-back world champions, Erasmus’ men have won five of their last six against New Zealand, while last year, they handed the All Blacks their biggest-ever defeat, a 43-10 hosing in Wellington backed up by 10 further Test wins on the bounce, beating France, Ireland, England, Scotland and Argentina along the way.
It is the Springboks who push the envelope and set the trends in rugby, everything from 7/1 benches to traffic lights in the coaching box and open-play mauls.
And in typical South African style, they’ve been turning up the heat ahead of the opening Test. On Monday, Erasmus joined former referee Jaco Peyper, who now works for the Boks under the wonderfully rugby title of ‘law adviser’, to defend accusations the team deliberately try to slow the game down.
Assistant coach Felix Jones further raised the heat a day later, claiming South Africa’s URC sides had been caught out by some ‘themes’ in the All Blacks’ play during their tour games, including ‘tucked shoulders’ and ‘trying to lift a leg or going off feet’ when the home sides were attacking through driving mauls. A very public plea toward the series’ referees.
Maybe this approach is a sign of the danger Erasmus senses from a potentially resurgent New Zealand, but even in these early days of the Rennie era, you wonder what a damaging South African series might mean for his All Blacks.
They have been making big adjustments coming out of Scott Robertson’s underwhelming tenure. Ruben Love is the lively new 10 at the heart of Rennie’s more open, attacking style of rugby. Cam Roigard is more established at scrum-half (20 caps) but this will be his first start against South Africa.
Damian McKenzie has been backed as Rennie’s first-choice fullback, with Beauden Barrett – the starting out-half for last year’s Rugby Championship and Nations Series – now struggling to even make a matchday squad. An improved ruck speed has been at the heart of New Zealand’s slick early showings under Rennie, as has a greater focus on dominating their opponents physically, opting for a more meaty back five.
Rennie has largely reverted to the side that put 40 points on Ireland last month, with Fabian Holland’s selection ahead of Patrick Tuipulotu in the second row the sole change to the starting XV.
The Boks have been moving things on too. Saturday’s half-back pairing of Grant Williams and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu represents speed and creativity, a move away from the more controlled and metronomic half-backs of old – perhaps to match the more “fast, intense” approach Erasmus is expecting from the visitors.
But there is some fear the Boks are coming into this one a little cold, having last played against the Pumas two weeks ago. That fixture saw Siya Kolisi, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth and Feinberg-Mngomezulu all return from injury, so there’s a possibility of a little rust this weekend.
De Jager is not involved for the opening Test, while Kolisi also misses out despite Erasmus stating he ‘could have selected’ his captain following a hamstring problem. With Kolisi in the stands, Stormers man Paul de Villiers (23) comes in to win his fourth cap.
The All Blacks have warmed up with high-scoring wins against the Stormers (38-21), Sharks (54-0) and Bulls (50-19), but this is where the serious business starts.
Expect it to be fast, expect it to be ferocious.
SOUTH AFRICA: Damian Willemse; Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Grant Williams; Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Wilco Louw; Eben Etzebeth, Ruan Nortje; Paul de Villiers, Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt), Jasper Wiese.
Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zachary Porthen, Cobus Wiese, Andre Esterhuizen, Marco van Staden, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok.
NEW ZEALAND: Damian McKenzie; Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby; Ruben Love, Cam Roigard; Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax; Josh Lord, Fabian Holland; Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson, Ardie Savea (capt).
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Anton Segner, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Leroy Carter.
Referee: Matthew Carley
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
All Blacks greatest rivalry Rugby Springboks