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[File Image] New Zealand’s Samuel Whitelock and South Africa’s Duane Vermeulen in action during a lineout.
The Springboks cannot escape the magnitude of the occasion of their round three Rugby Championship showdown against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
New Zealand will be defending a proud 31-year unbeaten streak at Eden Park against the reigning World Champions and defending Rugby Championship champions, the Springboks, who last won at the famous Auckland stadium 88 years ago.
Springbok captain Jesse Kriel says this fixture is why his team trains hard everyday throughout their professional careers.
“These are all the games that the guys get extremely excited for. It doesn’t get any bigger than this. I suppose, besides the World Cup … this is what you trained hard for and you worked towards each and every day of your professional career. To play in games like this. The mood is awesome, the guys are excited – we have had a great week of prep and just looking forward to tomorrow,” adds Kriel.
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The captain says only a World Cup trumps this fixture, and in New Zealand, a rugby-mad country, the buzz and the noise from outside would certainly have seeped into the Boks camp.
The message from assistant coach, Mzwandile Stick to his charges has remained the same for the Boks’ entire stay in Auckland.
“If you want to win the competition, you want to be able to beat the best in the world, which is the all blacks, the number one team in the world and we are looking forward to that challenge,” adds Stick.
On the subject of leadership within the Boks, Kriel underlined that Siya Kolisi, who is concentrating on staying fit at eighthman, remains the captain of the Springboks, but that he has been called upon to do his part and lead in a Springbok team that is not short in the leadership department.
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