Soweto Test a watershed for ABs
5 Oct 2012
Richie McCaw says the All Blacks won’t be taking Saturday’s fixture lightly as they view it as a stepping stone to greater achievements.
It may be true that you only defend your World Cup title at the following tournament, but the All Blacks have certainly enhanced their No 1 status with an outstanding and to-date undefeated 2012 campaign.
A convincing win in Argentina last week saw them securing the Rugby Championship title, rendering the final clash with South Africa meaningless as far as that Sanzar competition is concerned.
In the context of the All Blacks’ long-term ambitions, however, this Saturday’s match in Soweto is massively important.
All Blacks No 8 Kieran Read said on Thursday that a loss to the Boks at this stage would be a substantial setback. It was an extreme statement to make, but on Friday Read’s captain confirmed that the entire team feels the same way.
The All Blacks are aiming for a clean sweep in the Rugby Championship. A win against the Boks will also place them in a great position to break that world record for the most consecutive Test wins.
A win against the Boks would taken their tally to 16 victories in a row, and you’d have to believe they would then be favourites to surpass Lithuania’s 18. The All Blacks rarely lose in Europe, and with that extra motivation they will be even tougher to topple.
But McCaw and his men realise that to get themselves into a position to break the record, they will first need to overcome a Bok side that is starting to find form.
McCaw said on Friday that the decision to cancel the captain’s run at Soccer City was taken to preserve the energy of the players. The team management is mindful of the looming physical fight, and want their charges operating at full intensity.
‘We want a full tank for tomorrow,’ said McCaw. ‘The guys have been training hard this week, at the intensity of what we expect from the Boks. We have had a good first few days this week and now we have decided to take it a bit easier.
‘We have to perform well tomorrow or else it [their progress in 2012] will be undone. That’s what we need to do first, ensure we produce a good performance. We did it last week in Argentina, but not being able to back it up [in Soweto] would be hugely disappointing.’
Many have asked how the All Blacks could be motivated for a Test that is of no consequence to the outcome of the Rugby Championship. When the question was put to McCaw, a decorated veteran who has tasted some sweet victories and gutting defeats in many match-ups involving the Boks, he explained that there was always something at stake when these two teams clashed.
‘If you can’t get excited for the Boks, then you should be doing something else with your life really,’ he said.
‘As good as last week was [the All Blacks beat Argentina 54-15] we were always mindful of the added challenge of coming here for the final game. We’ve been mentally and physically preparing ourselves for this, and are really looking forward to the contest.’
By Jon Cardinelli, in Johannesburg
54 Comments
5 Oct 2012, 14:29 pm
Flippen Capies, for the last time, FNB Stadium is not in Soweto!
5 Oct 2012, 14:29 pm
All Blacks putting unnecessary pressure on themselves by referring to this as a “massively important” game.
And they have a history of struggling just a tad when the heat is really on.
5 Oct 2012, 14:34 pm
@Lions_Soutie-1:
No, The Calabash is.
5 Oct 2012, 14:37 pm
@Lions_Soutie-1: Folk are still confused about FNB stadium and Orlando stadium…..
5 Oct 2012, 14:41 pm
@Lions_Soutie-1:
FNB Calabash is in Crown Mines
5 Oct 2012, 14:52 pm
FNB Calabash is in Nasrec!
5 Oct 2012, 14:55 pm
@WP-Forever-6:
So?
Same place.
Same area.
5 Oct 2012, 14:56 pm
@WP-Forever-6:
You updated yourself on my status yet?
5 Oct 2012, 14:57 pm
As per Google Maps: Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium for commercial purposes, is a stadium located in Nasrec
I dont know where this “We are playing in Soweto” comes from. Some political agenda behind trhis to say the Boks are playing in Soweto.
5 Oct 2012, 14:58 pm
@Lions_Soutie-1: That’s like saying Rondebosch Golf Club is in Langa.
5 Oct 2012, 15:01 pm
@Dawn-8:
?
5 Oct 2012, 15:01 pm
@katman-10:
Or that Mzoli’s is in Camps Bay.
5 Oct 2012, 15:06 pm
Isn’t Mzoli’s in Camps Bay?
5 Oct 2012, 15:23 pm
love the pedantry.
5 Oct 2012, 15:33 pm
2 Willie all games are massively important for NZ and that’s why in recent years we’ve won close to 90% of our games and you 60%, pretty conclusive really.
5 Oct 2012, 15:37 pm
@NZINCHINA-15: You have, certainly.
But you have also have a tendency to in massively important games.
You know what I mean.
5 Oct 2012, 15:37 pm
@willievz-16: “tendency to (insert that c-word) in massively important games”
5 Oct 2012, 15:41 pm
@willievz-16:
you’re talking WC’s we just fixed that one, in between we reign supreme as you know 11 or 12 tri nations/ Rc’s is testament to that,
5 Oct 2012, 15:42 pm
In fact in between Wc’s we rarely lose period.
5 Oct 2012, 15:43 pm
and tomorrow night will be no different
5 Oct 2012, 15:46 pm
@NZINCHINA-20: are you always in “gloat” mode or is it something you put on for the keo blog?
5 Oct 2012, 15:47 pm
@willievz-2: agree totally bud.
5 Oct 2012, 15:49 pm
@Transformation-21:
Tranny, my mate Willie’s been digging hard the last few days, just needed to remind him of how it really is, no gloating just the facts we win tomorrow night and go unbeaten for the season.
5 Oct 2012, 15:52 pm
@NZINCHINA-19: You rarely lose period? You sound like a sanitary pad commercial.
5 Oct 2012, 15:55 pm
@NZINCHINA-23:
Do you have any “mates” here?
5 Oct 2012, 15:55 pm
Willie outside of WC’s could you tell us exactly when we have struggled in the big matches, we’ve lost once in the NH in a decade, and won close to 90% of our games in recent years?
5 Oct 2012, 15:56 pm
@Dawn-25:
Dawn i’m second only to Pops in the KEO popularity stakes.
5 Oct 2012, 15:56 pm
@keo-22:
You better change this headline cos Calabash ain’t in Soweto
5 Oct 2012, 15:58 pm
@NZINCHINA-19: @NZINCHINA-20: The only side remotely capable of beating you at the moment is the Boks.
That in itself is should make you think twice.
5 Oct 2012, 15:58 pm
Perhaps it’s a Soweto test for the Abs because, after Saturday, they’ll be left scratching their heads and wondering “soweto from here?”
5 Oct 2012, 16:00 pm
@NZINCHINA-27:
You think he’s popular?
5 Oct 2012, 16:01 pm
@willievz-29:
Yip you are right they are more tha capable of beating us just not tomorrow night, we got taken by surprise in Dunedin and you know that won’t happen again. The “great” DC is back and we all know he makes a huge difference, Ab’s to take it in the last 20, superior fitness/conditioning, DC to control the show.
5 Oct 2012, 16:02 pm
@Dawn-31:
they love him and why wouldn’t they
5 Oct 2012, 16:04 pm
@NZINCHINA-33:
Who loves him?
(Besides you, of course)
5 Oct 2012, 16:05 pm
50% of KEO punters thought the Argies were gong to knock us over before we got to Soweto, they got that wrong as well.
5 Oct 2012, 16:06 pm
@NZINCHINA-26: Big games in 2011? Let’s see.
For starters, you struggled in the 3N game against the Aussies in Brisbane, last year. You lost the 3N.
You also struggled in the WC final. In fact, you choked. Only won 8-7 against a side that was dominant and who should have received any of four kickable penalties in the last 10 minutes.
Fair enough, in 2010 you were dominant.
But in 2009, not so dominant.
In 2008, you lost a test against the Boks on home soil. A Bok team without several WC stalwarts.
In 2007, you did not win a WC.
5 Oct 2012, 16:07 pm
@NZINCHINA-33:
Just you and me chingy
5 Oct 2012, 16:08 pm
@Dawn-34:
My mistake then Dawn.
5 Oct 2012, 16:08 pm
@NZINCHINA-35:
Who comprises this 50% you speak of.
5 Oct 2012, 16:09 pm
@NZINCHINA-38:
You are both equally hated.
Your type gives Cory and his fend a bad name.
5 Oct 2012, 16:11 pm
@willievz-36:
Willie we can’t win all the time just most of the time, when the Bokke get into a position of playing for the silverware year in year out like us you’ll also lose a few but thats the difference Willie a good deal of the time you’re fighting it out for the wooden spoon and never get into that postion.
5 Oct 2012, 16:11 pm
@Dawn-40:
Thank you Dawn I didn’t know that.
5 Oct 2012, 16:14 pm
@NZINCHINA-41: That’s the point.
You win easily most of the time.
But you struggle to win in really important games, which of course are far fewer than more regular fixtures.
5 Oct 2012, 16:18 pm
Have a read Willie year in year out, they had one for the wooden spoon to illustrate my point but why would I bother.
1996 New Zealand
1997 New Zealand
1998 South Africa
1999 New Zealand
2000 Australia
2001 Australia
2002 New Zealand
2003 New Zealand
2004 South Africa
2005 New Zealand
2006 New Zealand
2007 New Zealand
2008 New Zealand
2009 South Africa
2010 New Zealand
2011 Australia
2012 New Zealand
5 Oct 2012, 16:20 pm
@willievz-43:
Willie we’ll have to agree to disagree then, you’re happy with what the Bokke win I’m happy with what we win.
5 Oct 2012, 16:23 pm
I’m off to bed, zai jian Willie/Dawn.
5 Oct 2012, 16:23 pm
@NZINCHINA-44: @NZINCHINA-45: Of course you are the better team with your winning percentage.
That is not what this debate is about.
I was merely stating that you are piling unnecessary pressure on yourself by referring to this game as a “must win / massively important” one.
You might just be surprised tomorrow.
5 Oct 2012, 16:24 pm
@NZINCHINA-46: Cheers China
5 Oct 2012, 16:40 pm
Another big night on the rice wine for our mate in china.
5 Oct 2012, 16:51 pm
@gunther-49: he can be insufferable.
5 Oct 2012, 18:05 pm
@gunther-49:
he’s just lonely.
looking for attention.
5 Oct 2012, 18:11 pm
@katman-30: You are brilliant
5 Oct 2012, 18:15 pm
@ryecatcher-52: Maybe an overstatement.
Slightly above scintillating.Keep em coming Katman
6 Oct 2012, 02:54 am
This game is going to be about the benches. Tight up to the last quarter and then the bench with the most impact will decide the winner after the forward packs have beaten each other to a standstill. Any significant injury amongst the forward packs could also be decisive. AB’s can’t afford to lose McCaw or Read, whilst the Boks need there first choice front row on for as long as possible. If the AB’s start getting set piece dominance in the last 20 mins due to lack of Bok bench quality, the Boks will likely lose. Boks to lead into half time.
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