Junior Boks coach Kevin Foote believes the winners of Saturday’s fourth Test in Baltimore will get a psychological boost ahead of next year’s World Cup in Australia.
The Springboks and All Blacks are on course to collide at the quarter-final stage of the global showpiece if they win all of their pool matches and round-of-16 playoff.
For that not to happen, New Zealand would need to lose to hosts Australia in Pool A or South Africa suffer a shock defeat to Italy in Pool B, assuming the other pool results go according to expectations.
That makes Saturday’s first-ever clash between the old rivals on American soil particularly significant for Foote, who believes victory at a neutral venue could provide a psychological edge should they meet in Australia.
“That’s why I think this game is so big because it’s a neutral venue – who can stand up at a neutral venue?” Foote said on the Boks Unpacked X The Verdict podcast.
“Australia is not going to be as neutral. There will be a lot of Kiwis there – it’s three and a half hours [away from New Zealand].
“But this is a massive one for the mentality going into the World Cup. If you can beat them in America, you can beat them in Australia.”
PLUS: Inside Boks, All Blacks’ America gamble
The Boks are looking to secure a 3-1 triumph at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday (11pm SA time), while the All Blacks can take home half of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry trophy with what many would consider to be a consolation victory.
“In my view, we’ve won the series,” said former Springbok centre and ex-Stormers coach Robbie Fleck, sitting alongside Foote. “The series was contested in South Africa and it’s 2-1. The [fourth] Test is being played in Baltimore for various reasons, whatever they may be – commercially or growing the game, whatever.
“Both teams are going to go out there to win it, there’s no doubt. But in my personal opinion, we won it [at FNB Stadium last week].
“I think New Zealand are battered, both physically and, I’d say, emotionally. Dave Rennie is an outstanding coach. He’s a great culture man and he’ll get them up for it. But the fact that we can select basically the same team and make one or two changes max is going to be tough for New Zealand.
“Both of them have had the same sort of travel, but New Zealand have been touring for a long time now. The odds are against them, and it was important that we went 2-1 up going over there.”
MORE: Siya wired to win the Springbok way
Foote expects another entertaining encounter after the teams combined for 161 points and 21 tries in the opening three Tests.
“I think it’s going to be a high-scoring game with the fatigue on board and tries are coming,” he said. “I’m going to go 42-32 to the Boks.”
“36-24 Boks,” added Fleck.
The post Foote: Baltimore massive for RWC mentality appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Junior Boks coach Kevin Foote believes the winners of Saturday’s fourth Test in Baltimore will get a psychological boost ahead of next year’s World Cup in Australia.
The post Foote: Baltimore massive for RWC mentality appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
