The Springboks will take on New Zealand’s All Blacks at Emirates Airline Park (or Ellis Park Stadium) in Johannesburg on Saturday in the opening Test of the inaugural Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named what he believes is a well-balanced squad, blending players who remained in South Africa to prepare specifically for the series with others who recently featured against Argentina.
Speaking on the official Springboks website, Erasmus said the team selection was carefully considered to meet the challenge posed by one of world rugby’s strongest sides.
“The All Blacks are a quality team, and we selected combinations we think would be best suited for the challenge this weekend. It certainly helped to have some players return from injury last week and get back into top-flight Test rugby, while some of the others who had a heavy workload in the Nations Championship had sufficient time to recover from the physical toll on them,” he said.
Erasmus added that the full squad had now spent more than a week together in camp, allowing the players to align on the team’s strategy and preparations for the highly anticipated encounter.
“We are preparing for an 80-minute grind. They have a well-rounded squad with physical forwards and an exciting backline, so we have to be sharp and accurate in our execution from the outset.”
The Springbok coach expects another fiercely contested battle between the two rugby giants, noting that recent meetings have often been decided by the finest of margins.
“Many of the matches between the sides have come down to the wire, so it is important that we use the chances we create and ensure that our discipline is on point. It is going to be a big battle, but the entire squad is excited about the match and looking forward to it,” Erasmus said.
The clash marks the beginning of a new chapter in one of international rugby’s most celebrated rivalries, with South Africa and New Zealand once again set to battle for supremacy in front of a passionate Ellis Park crowd.
Kick-off is scheduled for 5:10 pm on Saturday, August 22.
