Springboks start as favourites against All Blacks

The Springboks are loathe to ever want to accept the tag of favourites going into a showdown, but against the All Blacks in round three of the Rugby Championship in Johannesburg on Saturday, they will be the odds-on favourites for the win.

The New chapter in old rivalry between Springboks and All Blacks does however, transcend talk of favourites versus underdogs and promises to be a top-drawer game of rugby. The Boks have confirmed that Eben Etzebeth will play from the bench, and that could prove the difference in the test match.

The Springboks realise that this is the type of match that will dictate the mood of the country on the Monday following the Saturday showdown. They accept the heavy responsibility of playing for South Africa, and as the captain Siya Kolisi underlined, the Green and Gold is playing for all of South Africa.

Kolisi says his team thinks things like that and uses it as motivation.

“We are in a place of privilege having the honour of representing the whole of South Africa, not just some, everybody in South Africa. And what you do with what you are gifted with, your talent you are able to control someone’s moods. On Monday I know how nice it is on Monday for people to go into the office and talk about how lekker the weekend was when the Springboks have won. So we think about all of that.”

Eben Etzebeth’s inclusion on the bench is a big boost. According to assistant coach, Mzwandile Stick, it’s because the Boks’ enforcer has not missed a training session this week and will be ready to go from the bench.

“We wanted to give him a fair chance on the Monday and Tuesday where he was training full out and also on Wednesday so he didn’t miss any training sessions. So there is no reason for us not to select him and he has been looking good so having him on the bench he will be a massive impact when he is needed.”

The Springboks may well be the favourites going into this fixture, not something they are very comfortable with, and against their old foe, New Zealand, not something to ponder for even a second.

Kolisi says that if the Boks want to get the better of the All Blacks, then they have to remember the history of the encounter, but also need to focus solely on the next match.

“They have beaten us a lot of times. Some of us in this group have had 57-nil defeats, we never forget that. So tomorrow is an important game for us and we have a lot to play for so that is all we have been focusing on just tomorrow.”

The Springboks have resisted the urge to tinker with the starting fifteen, knowing from experience that a win over New Zealand is a full match-day 23 effort, and the Bok bench is looking strong, particularly with Etzebeth sitting and waiting for his chance.

“The game against the All Blacks you are probably going to have to play until the last second and to have guys like Eben and the role of the bench and guys like Kwagga those are the guys that are needed for the impact they should be able to bring that impact we won’t make any changes Pieter Steph and Ruan, they will start the game for sure,” says Stick.

The All Blacks are the team the Boks beat in the final of the World Cup last year. This rivalry has never been about world rankings, but rather a mutual respect and is usually played out on the grandest of stages. Saturday’s match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg should be no exception.