Stephen Donald is confident of New Zealand dominating the Rugby Greatest Rivalry series, with the ex-All Blacks flyhalf not even giving South Africa a chance on home soil.
The All Blacks lock horns with the Sharks, Stormers and Vodacom Bulls next month in the Republic before the epic four-Test battle opens at Ellis Park. After a midweek clash against the Lions, the rivals meet again in Cape Town and Soweto before the finale in Baltimore.
Donald is convinced that the men in black can win the first three Tests after Dave Rennie’s men went unbeaten in the Nations Championship.
“I was confident for the last couple of weeks,” Donald said on Sky Sports NZ’s The Breakdown.
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“Rennie talked about the kicking game getting the balance right. I reckon last night the boys had to confront slow ball more than they had in the first couple of weeks, and with all the entertainment aspect of a game, they still had the ability and smarts to go right: ‘We are going to kick here, and we are just going to put up a box and start again’.
“So, I love the way we’re playing… confident we might give the Boks the American one; just we might be sick of winning by then. We’ll go first three; my confidence is high.”
Fellow former All Black Justin Marshall , though, warned that winning a series in Mzansi remains a tough assignment despite the Kiws’ encouraging form.
“We’ve been going well, and a good side comes and puts pressure on you. They put you into places you’re not used to being in,” the former scrumhalf said.
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“I certainly don’t think Dave Rennie is underestimating what is in front of him in South Africa.
“That’s again what you put the boots on for. It’s the toughest challenge in the game to go there and win a series. We’ve only ever done it once in ’96.
“They will be very well grounded in that respect, but I think confident we can go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the world. No problem whatsoever.
“This is great. It’s set up so well. One and two in the world. Four Tests on the bounce. Can’t wait.”
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour fixtures
Friday, 7 August: vs Stormers, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Tuesday, 11 August: vs Sharks, Kings Park, Durban
Saturday, 15 August: vs Vodacom Bulls, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday, 22 August: vs Springboks, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Tuesday, 25 August: vs Lions, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Saturday, 29 August: vs Springboks, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Saturday, 5 September: vs Springboks, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Saturday 12 September: vs Springboks, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
Photo: Craig Butland/MB Media/Getty Images
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Stephen Donald is confident of New Zealand dominating the Rugby Greatest Rivalry series, with the ex-All Blacks flyhalf not even giving South Africa a chance on home soil.
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