Jeff Wilson has urged the All Blacks to feed off the energy at Ellis Park on Saturday as they prepare to face the Springboks in front of a sold-out crowd.
New Zealand have won six of their 16 Tests against the Boks at the Joburg venue, which has traditionally provided one of the most intimidating environments in world rugby.
The All Blacks suffered a 31-27 defeat there in 2024, having won the previous encounter 35-23 in 2022, and 62,000 spectators will pack Ellis Park for the first Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
Wilson, who earned 60 Test caps for the All Blacks, believes those who have experienced the atmosphere before will have an important role to play.
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“I think if you’ve never experienced it before, it can be overwhelming,” Wilson told SARugbymag.co.za at All Blacks training on Tuesday. “If you’ve gone through it, then you understand it, and I think the experienced players will explain exactly what the environment is going to be like.
“Look, it’s like no other ground in the world. Everyone’s got their spiritual home and their most difficult place to be beaten at. That’s Ellis Park. That’s the altitude, that’s in front of a parochial and fantastic fan base, which is exciting to play in.
“You just have to try and feed off the energy, even if some of the energy is clearly not in your favour.
“As a player, once you’ve been there and experienced it, you can deal with it better. For these players, that’s what it will be.”
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The All Blacks arrive at the first Test with six consecutive wins since Dave Rennie took charge. They beat France, Italy and Ireland in New Zealand in July, and the Stormers, Sharks and Vodacom Bulls on tour in South Africa.
But when asked whether those results mean the All Blacks are ‘back’, Wilson said Ellis Park would provide a far more definitive answer.
“It’s what you determine as being back. Playing the Springboks is when you find out whether you’re back or not, or if you’re closer and getting closer.
“For some of the players, it’s their first time touring here. Other players have been here before and tasted success, but also tasted defeat. It’s just putting that all together and finding out what the best version of the All Blacks is.
“But there’s no doubt there’s a real optimism. They use that word a lot, but I think there’s an excitement around it.”
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Wilson expects little to separate the teams across a four-Test series in which the ability to adjust from week to week could prove decisive.
“I think we’ll see a lot of momentum shifts, whether it’s in-game or across the full series. We’ll see one team maybe dominate one week and the other team adapt and be better and maybe steal one.
“I just don’t think there’ll be a lot between these two teams.”
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
The post Goldie: Ellis Park can be overwhelming appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Jeff Wilson has urged the All Blacks to feed off the energy at Ellis Park on Saturday as they prepare to face the Springboks in front of a sold-out crowd.
The post Goldie: Ellis Park can be overwhelming appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
