Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has challenged his side to make life as difficult as possible for the All Blacks when the two teams meet at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Bulls are next up for New Zealand on Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour after the All Blacks dug deep to beat the Stormers and swept aside the Sharks in their opening two matches against South African opposition.
Ackermann knows his side face an All Blacks team that is more battle-hardened, but believes the Bulls can still push their illustrious opponents all the way if they execute their game plan.
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“We’re competitive and we’re going to give them a run for their money, hopefully. That’s the aim,” Ackermann said.
“We don’t want to make it easy. Even though they’re probably, from a rugby point of view, more battle-hardened, we’re going to give it a bash. We still believe that if we do the things well, we can upset them and push them all the way.”
Ackermann says the opportunity to face the All Blacks is one he believes his players should embrace.
“It’s a great privilege to play against the All Blacks in any format, whether it is for the Barbarians, for South Africa or for the Vodacom Bulls,” he said.
“This is an occasion that a lot of the players would never have had.”
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The clash will also carry plenty of personal significance for Ackermann, who missed the three-Test series against the All Blacks the last time they played in South Africa in 1996 through injury.
“It’s obviously fond memories for me. I played a lot in New Zealand, either in Super Rugby or the Test match that I played there,” Ackermann said.
“But it’s also a bit of a sad reminder because the one thing I will always think about is: what if I didn’t get injured in my fourth Test?”
“A week before they played their last three-match Test series in 1996, I got injured. I knew that was the last time the All Blacks would do it in South Africa, and we wanted to play in that, and then I got injured.”
With the Springboks now preparing to face New Zealand in another series, Ackermann believes the Bulls should relish their opportunity to share the field with the All Blacks.
“It’s great to have the All Blacks in South Africa. It’s a great challenge for these players.”
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Photo: Vodacom Bulls
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Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has challenged his side to make life as difficult as possible for the All Blacks when the two teams meet at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
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