The Springboks and All Blacks will clash in a rematch of the 2023 Rugby World Cup final on Saturday, but everything is different about this duel between the old foes, writes MARK KEOHANE.
The world champions host New Zealand in the Rugby Championship at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, before the rivalry makes its debut at Cape Town Stadium a week later.
Following their win when the two teams met in Paris less than a year ago, the Boks are looking to claim three wins in a row over the Kiwis for just the second time in the professional era, matching the record set in 2009.
Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane stresses that this week’s match is a new chapter in the history of rugby’s two greatest teams, with different lineups and mentalities from their previous encounters.
He highlights the settled nature of the Boks under Rassie Erasmus, compared to the All Blacks’ new coach, Scott Robertson. While many South African players are familiar, only a few like Damian de Allende, Siya Kolisi, and Frans Malherbe will start in the same positions as previous matches.
KEO: Scene set for Ellis Park thriller
Keohane contrasts the 2022 Ellis Park Test, where a struggling All Blacks team pulled off a late win, with last year’s World Cup showpiece, where the Boks’ experience and winning mentality prevailed.
In 2024, both teams have only lost one match, and Keohane emphasises the pressure on the Boks to perform at home. He predicts a 10-point-plus Bok victory, citing their experienced players and strong bench as decisive factors, while Robertson’s focus will likely be on growth and development.
“Saturday is not a repeat of the 2023 Rugby World Cup final between the Springboks and All Blacks and neither is it a revisit of the last time the two nations met at Ellis Park in 2022,” Keohane writes.
“Saturday is a new chapter because there are so many new faces involved on both sides. Everything is different about Saturday, in starting line-ups, matchday squads, occasion and team mentality.
“Realistically, though, the pressure is on the World Champion Boks to win at home, and do it in style against their greatest rival. For Robertson, if there is to be a defeat, the heroism or quality of play turns the talk to growth and a new squad evolving.”
Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
