Springbok assistant coach Mzwandila wand and This is Kolisicaptain of the national team, said it will only take maximum effort to beat New Zealand as the sides wrap up their preparations for the second meeting on Friday Rugby Championship clash to be held at Ellis Park on Saturday.
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For most of the South African players and coaches, this will be the first time they will be able to play in home Tests against their arch-rivals, and after last week’s 26-10 win, the Boks can add another feather to their cap if they can make it two out of two in Johannesburg.
Stick and Kolisi, however, expected the visitors to open the fire and said that with the caliber of players New Zealand would need to go all out to emerge victorious.
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“We watched the game last week, but we can’t dwell on this result for too long.” – said Kolisi.
“New Zealand are a very good team and they are one run away from turning things around.
“For our part, we had a good overview of the game last week and we think we can improve a lot.”
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Stick echoed these sentiments: “The All Blacks are a world class team and with Richie Munga in defense they will be even more dangerous. He can mix his game with kicking and running, so he will bring something different to the team.
“We know for sure that we cannot stop against them for a minute because they have world class players who can punish you. It will be a huge challenge and we have to be on top to beat them.”
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For Kolisi and Stick, it is the first time in their time with the Springboks that they have been able to register back-to-back home wins against the All Blacks.
“It would be great to be one of the top Springbok teams, but our focus is on working hard and playing well,” – said Kolisi.
“None of the coaches or players have been in this situation before to maybe beat New Zealand in back-to-backs at home, so we just want to go out and give it our all on Saturday.”
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The occasion was no less important to Stick, who said: “This is the first time in my life as a Bok team that we will be playing Tests against the All Blacks at home and we know it will be a huge challenge but we will do our best. We have a big tour ahead of us, but we don’t want to look too far ahead.
“Ellis Park is a big ground for both teams. I will certainly never forget the 1995 Rugby World Cup final featuring Nelson Mandela and Joel Stransky’s drop goal.
“The big factor for us, though, is to keep building and hopefully we can do that and the scoreboard will take care of itself.”
Springbok Women will play the curtain
Kolisi also urged local supporters to come out and support Springbok female team to face Spain in the match, which kicks off at 1pm, and said it was a great opportunity for fans in the stadium and at home to show their support for the women’s team as they prepare for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand later this year.
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The Springboks shared a special moment with their female counterparts on Friday morning as they posed for a team photo ahead of tomorrow’s doubleheader.
“It’s great that we were able to take a team photo with the Springbok women” – said Kolisi.
“I’m a big fan of the team because they work just as hard as we do, if not more. Women’s sport unfortunately doesn’t get as much as we do, so we men have to appreciate it.
“The Springbok women just keep getting better and better and we’re very proud of them, so I encourage our fans to come out a little early and support them because they represent us all, like us.”
COMMANDS:
South Africa
15 Damian Willems (Stormers), 14 Jesse Krill (Canon Eagles), 13 Luhanyo Am (Sharks), 12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), 11 Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), 10 Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), 9 Jaden Hendricks ( Sharks), 8 Dwayne Vermeilen (Ulster), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Werblitz), 6 Sia Collisi (Captain, Sharks), 5 Lud de Jaeger (Wild Knights), 4 Eben Etzebet (Sharks), 3 Frans Malerb ( Stormers), 2 Joseph Dweba (Stormers), 1 Ox Nche (Sharks)
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marks (Kubota Spurs), 17 Steven Kitsgoff (Stormers), 18 Vincent Koch (Wasps), 19 Franko Mostert (Honda Heat), 20 Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers), 21 Kwaga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Rays), 22 Herschel Yanties (Stormers), 23 Willy le Roux (Toyota Verblitz)
All are black
15 Jordy Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieka Ioane, 12 David Havili, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Richie Mungo, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardi Savea, 7 Sam Kane (c), 6 Shannon Frizzell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Sam Whitelock , 3 Tyrell Lomax, 2 Samisoni Taukeiaha, 1 Ethan de Groot
Subs: 16 Cody Taylor, 17 George Bauer, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Tupou Vaai, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Quinn Tupaea
