Ex-New Zealand skipper Sam Cane expects the All Blacks to thrive under pressure when tackling the Springboks at a hostile Ellis Park in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry opener.
The four-Test series kicks off on 22 August in Johannesburg, pitting the world champion Boks against an unbeaten All Blacks side that has also swept through the Nations Championship.
Cane, who played 104 Tests for New Zealand and was part of the victorious 2015 World Cup squad, spoke on The Aftermatch with Kirst & Beav podcast about what makes playing the Boks in South Africa such a tough challenge.
“Honestly, it used to be my favourite place to play. It’s the greatest test, because it’s that feeling of ‘circle the wagons, it’s us against everyone else’. No one there wants you to win,” the 34-year-old said.
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“They’ll pat you on the back and tell you how awesome you are and how much they love the All Blacks, etc, during the week and then you’re on the bus to the game and there’s fans pulling fingers at you!
“If you can get a win over there it’s the most satisfying of victories.”
Cane recalled the atmosphere on the drive into Ellis Park, sharing a memory of former hooker Dane Coles refusing to back down from taunting fans.
“It feels like about a kilometre out from the stadium there’s just people everywhere. We’re driving in one day and there’s a bus of supporters right beside us and they’re giving us the finger,” he recalled.
“You’re taught to ignore it and stay focused, and Colesy’s sitting in front of me and he’s just like giving it straight back to them!
“When you get off the bus all the supporters are there too, watching you … there’s a tension or animosity in the air that you can feel, like ‘we don’t want you here’.
“You end up thriving off that added pressure, that feeling of our backs are against the walls.”
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On facing the Boks up front, Cane pointed to an approach adopted by the Chiefs under current All Blacks coach Dave Rennie against South African Super Rugby sides.
“He used to pick his team based off his forward pack, guys who were really effective chop tacklers,” the flanker said. “Get the big men on the ground as quickly as possible. Don’t get caught in a wrestle or battle up higher because we’re going to lose that.”
Cane also downplayed the notion that altitude offers the Boks an edge: “There’s this misconception ‘oh, they thrive at altitude because they’re used to it’, but a lot of them aren’t used to it.
“They’re going to feel it as much as us; just back yourself and push yourself to get up and keep going.”
Photo: Duif du Toit/Gallo Images
The post Cane: Knives are out for All Blacks in SA appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Ex-New Zealand skipper Sam Cane expects the All Blacks to thrive under pressure when tackling the Springboks at a hostile Ellis Park in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry opener.
The post Cane: Knives are out for All Blacks in SA appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
