Friday night’s clash with the All Blacks is being eagerly awaited not by just Springbok fans, but also many neutrals desperate for a good spectacle and contest after a series of warmup games that for the most part have been quite drab affairs.
However, while the Twickenham showdown between the two traditional giants of world rugby, something underlined by the two nations both having won three World Cup titles, more than any other team, is going to be like manna from Heaven for some, there is a nagging question both sets of supporters might be asking - why this game now?
Injuries are already a big talking point ahead of the tournament, with some key players among the favoured teams already ruled out, and there is no such thing as a Bok/All Black game that is played with less than 100 per cent commitment. It is always physical, it is always intensely fought, and while the result might not be quite as important as the potential match up between the sides in the quarterfinal phase in mid-October, there will be no quarter asked or given under the Twickenham lights.
Listening to Bok coach Jacques Nienaber speak about it though it becomes quite obvious why, for the first time ever, the South Africans are playing their most feared and respected opponents in the warmup phase to a World Cup proper. It all comes down to the question of style and the challenges Nienaber wants to see his players have to confront.
CAUGHT OUT BY TEMPO
The Boks were undeniably caught out by the tempo of the Kiwi game when the two sides met at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship. This game was already organised by then, so it wasn’t directed by that, but this is an opportunity for the Boks to adjust to the pace of the New Zealand game, something they are not as exposed to as they used to be during the Super Rugby era.
And it will be a similar story for the All Blacks - they’ve only really played southern hemisphere opposition in this international season. While the Boks are southern hemisphere opposition, stylistically they are a synthesis of south and north, playing a more test match type of game than the Wallabies, who the Kiwis have played and beaten twice already in the buildup to France.
But as Nienaber pointed out, the Boks, in choosing Wales and New Zealand as their two warmup opponents in addition to the traditional post Rugby Championship warmup against Argentina, have got it just right.
“If you look at the two warmup games it is fair to say that Wales is a grinding team,” said Nienaber.
“I would not quite say they play a completely opposite style of play to New Zealand, but they are very different to New Zealand. So it will be good to go into the World Cup having played both of them.”
KIWIS HAVE MANY STRENGTHS
Nienaber added that the game in Auckland in July had underlined the need to get exposure to the Kiwi quick tempo game, while the other good thing about the All Blacks as opponents is the progress they have made in their forward game since last year.
“If you saw the game we played in New Zealand you’d know we needed a quicker start. They put us under massive pressure in the first 20 minutes with their hight tempo and also the big continuity they brought to their play. They’re always looking to get away offloads, finding ways to speed things up.
“But in saying that I am not focusing away from the other things they are good at. They also now have a strong maul and a strong scrums, and they stop your mauls and scrums really well. It is a good set piece they have and on top of the quick game they play we have a lot to handle in this game and it will be good to be exposed to what the All Blacks bring.”
Nienaber said the Bok camp was looking forward to playing in front of what should be a packed Twickenham, in other words in front of nearly 82 000 people, and the fact it was on neutral territory will make it interesting.
“It is not often we get to play the All Blacks on neutral territory outside of a World Cup and I am sure being in London both teams will have a lot of support, I am not sure who will have the most support,” said Nienaber in reference to the many expats of both countries who are based in England.
