Legendary former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick has pinpointed what could prove decisive in Saturday’s opening Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.
The 63-year-old, who led New Zealand to a historic series win on South African soil three decades ago, spoke to SARugbymag.co.za in Johannesburg on Thursday.
“I think the first Test is really important,” he said. “Both teams are going to prepare as well as they can. They’ve both got probably their best teams available. And then it’s just down to people turning up in the right frame of mind.”
For Fitzpatrick, the margins in a Test of this magnitude will be defined by error count and concentration rather than spectacle.
“Less mistakes, and just being totally committed for the 80 minutes,” he said. “You need everyone just on the game.”
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He believes the pressure will be indescribable, referencing a moment in 1992 when he stepped off the team bus to be confronted by a little boy carrying a sign that read “Uli’s going to kill you.”
Fitzpatrick also touched on head coach Dave Rennie’s revelation that he had sent messages to the current squad ahead of the match, though he declined to detail their exact content.
Asked about the underlying theme, the gnarled former hooker kept his answer simple and pointed. “Just exactly that,” he said. “This is relentless.”
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Beyond the tactical demands, Fitzpatrick reflected on the unique intensity of touring South Africa, a country he says shares striking parallels with New Zealand in its obsession with rugby.
“They’re very similar to us,” he said, “The fans … it’s just relentless, 24/7, everywhere you go, people on you about the game and how it’s going to be played, how you’re going to get beaten.”
With two of the world’s top-ranked teams meeting in a fixture steeped in history, Fitzpatrick framed the occasion as one built on mutual respect as much as rivalry.
“You’ve got the two best teams in the world, and a lot of rivalry, a lot of history. And a lot of respect.”
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Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
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Legendary former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick has pinpointed what could prove decisive in Saturday’s opening Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
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