Steven Kitshoff says fatigue will be a key factor for the New Zealand tourists in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, but the former prop still backs them to surprise the Springboks.
The Stormers will host the All Blacks at Cape Town Stadium on Friday in the first match of the eight-game tour, which also includes clashes between New Zealand and the Sharks, Vodacom Bulls and Lions, and four Tests against the Boks.
Kitshoff has predicted a 3-1 Test series win for Rassie Erasmus’ Boks over their old enemy, pointing to the sheer length of the tour as the deciding factor.
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“I don’t think it’s going to be like that [4-0],” the double World Cup winner said on the For The Love of Rugby South Africa podcast. “The midweek games are going to be a massive telling sign.
“The Stormers one will be a massive crowd, a lot of energy around. From a pure Test rugby perspective, I think it’s going to be close, I think it’s going to end 3-1.”
He believes New Zealand’s best chance lies in banking results early, before accumulated travel and physicality take their toll.
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“It’s going to be tough for New Zealand, it’s a long tour, the guys are going to get tired,” Kitshoff added. “If New Zealand doesn’t knock it over in the first one or two [Tests], I think South Africa is going to put a lot of pressure on them towards the back end.
“If New Zealand can withstand that initial onslaught of the Boks… they can even come away with points, I think this thing can go either 2-2 or 3-1.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Kitsie gives ‘tired’ All Blacks a chance appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Steven Kitshoff says fatigue will be a key factor for the New Zealand tourists in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, but the former prop still backs them to surprise the Springboks.
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