Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick believes New Zealand have no room for error if they are to match the feat of his 1996 team and win a Test series in South Africa.
The All Blacks begin the first four-Test edition of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry against the Springboks at Ellis Park on Saturday, with the series also taking in Cape Town, a visit to Johannesburg’s iconic FNB Stadium and ends in the US city of Baltimore.
Fitzpatrick captained the only New Zealand side to win a Test series in South Africa when they claimed a 2-1 victory in 1996.
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He believes Dave Rennie’s side will need to be near-perfect to repeat that achievement.
“New Zealand will need to be right on their game, they cannot afford yellow cards or bad scrums,” Fitzpatrick told AFP at the unveiling of the Greatest Rivalry trophy in Johannesburg.
“They need to get everything right, which is difficult, but that is what Test rugby against the best is all about.
“They need a bit of luck too. Ideally you want to go 1-0 up so you can really pile on the pressure for the second Test in Cape Town.”
The All Blacks have scored 22 tries in their three tour matches against the Stormers, Sharks and Vodacom Bulls, but Fitzpatrick knows the challenge will be very different against the world champions.
“The Springboks definitely have a lot of options in how they want to play – their defensive line speed, the size of their pack, their ability to break tackles,” he said. “But the All Blacks know all that, Dave Rennie knows that.
“The Springboks also have some great attacking prowess, so I don’t see them slowing down the game as being to their advantage.
“New Zealand will need to be incredibly well-prepared because they are up against a very good attack.”
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Despite the daunting challenge, the 92-Test hooker believes the All Blacks are well placed under Rennie, who took over from Scott Robertson earlier this year.
“I’m quite comfortable with where the All Blacks are, they have definitely moved on from the start of the year,” he said.
“There is a good feeling around the camp, good messaging coming out with Dave Rennie being measured in what he has said.
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“His focus will be on the World Cup and what better preparation than against the Springboks?
“It is a real bonus to be here for five or six weeks, 14 months out from the World Cup.”
– AFP
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Fitzy: All Blacks must get everything right appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick believes New Zealand have no room for error if they are to match the feat of his 1996 team and win a Test series in South Africa.
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