Former All Blacks captain Kieran Read believes many of New Zealand’s younger players are in for a rude awakening when they experience a traditional tour of South Africa for the first time during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
The All Blacks will spend almost seven weeks in South Africa, playing four provincial fixtures before tackling the Springboks in a four-Test series – a schedule that evokes the old-style tours largely absent from the modern game.
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Read said playing in South Africa presents challenges unlike anywhere else.
“It’s a big deal and it’s not easy,” he said on The Good, The Bad and Rugby Australia and New Zealand podcast.
“Playing at altitude is a different game to what you usually get. So for a number of guys who haven’t been there and played in that environment, it’s going to be a challenge.
“But I think across the squad, the majority of the 23 will be guys who’ve been there and played there.”
The former No 8 said New Zealand players have missed out on experiencing one of rugby’s great traditions in recent years.
“It’s a loss for us as New Zealand players that we haven’t had a chance to be able to go across and experience the crowd, the passion that South Africans bring, which makes those first few games so important.
“There’s nothing better for an All Black.”
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Former scrumhalf Justin Marshall, who toured South Africa with the famous 1996 All Blacks side, said the upcoming series will expose today’s players to a level of pressure they’ve never encountered.
“What hurts me the most after being there in ’96, is that this is not a situation the All Blacks get thrown into anymore,” Marshall said.
“Basically what you’re mixed in with since ’96 is competitions within competitions.
“Going here on this tour is just the All Blacks, and the All Blacks are the focus for the entire country.
“They’re not thinking about playing Australia the following week or Argentina. It’s provincial games, it’s Test matches – four of them – where every week, everyone is gunning for the All Blacks.
“Every player in the country who’s good enough will get the chance to test themselves against the All Blacks.
“That’s the pressure and that just doesn’t happen anymore. Those types of tours have been taken out of the rugby calendars.”
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Marshall added that while South Africa is one of the toughest places to tour, it is also among the most welcoming.
“It’s a great country to tour,” he said.
“For all of that pressure and for all of them wanting to beat us, they are very hospitable.
“They love the All Blacks and as much as they’re baying for your blood and want to put down the All Blacks, they also have massive respect for New Zealand rugby players in general – and in particular the All Blacks.”
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: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post All Blacks warned: You don’t know what’s coming appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Former All Blacks captain Kieran Read believes many of New Zealand’s younger players are in for a rude awakening when they experience a traditional tour of South Africa for the first time.
The post All Blacks warned: You don’t know what’s coming appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
