Justin Marshall says getting to the fourth Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry with the series still alive would already represent a significant achievement for the All Blacks.
The four-Test showdown begins at Ellis Park in Joburg on 22 August before moving to Cape Town Stadium and then FNB Stadium outside Soweto.
The fourth Test – and a potential series decider – will be staged at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore in the USA for commercial reasons.
Marshall knows better than most the importance of making a strong start to a Test series in South Africa.
The former scrumhalf was part of the 1996 All Blacks team that became the first from New Zealand to win a Test series in the Republic. The tourists won 23-19 at Kings Park before clinching the series a week later with a 33-26 triumph at Loftus Versfeld.
Speaking on The Verdict podcast, former Bok flank Schalk Burger suggested New Zealand would happily arrive in Baltimore with the series still undecided.
“From a series perspective, as a New Zealander, you’re thinking that’s where the decider’s got to be,” Burger said. “If it gets down to that, just imagine that.”
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Marshall immediately agreed.
“I think we’d be happy with that,” he said. “If we can get out of here having not lost the series by that stage, that would be a win, big time, for the All Blacks.”
Marshall said New Zealand’s approach in 1996 was built around striking first and forcing the Springboks to chase the series.
“When I was thinking about this tour and also replicating what we did, our full focus was winning that first Test because then you’re on the front foot in the series. The other team’s playing catch-up.”
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That task will be particularly daunting this time, with the opening Test taking place at Ellis Park.
“You’re not surprised it’s Ellis Park – the home of Springbok rugby,” said Marshall. “Let’s face it, it’s where the Springboks just grow, if that’s ever possible, a bit taller and pump their chests out a bit further. It’s just got that feel about it.
“If Rassie or the coaching group had any input [in the schedule], they would go, ‘That first Test match in the series is huge for momentum.’
“I’m not surprised it’s Ellis Park. It makes that task of the All Blacks getting on the front foot a lot more daunting.”
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Photo: Esa Alexander/Reuters
The post ‘Reaching decider would be big win for All Blacks’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Justin Marshall says getting to the fourth Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry with the series still alive would already represent a significant achievement for the All Blacks.
The post ‘Reaching decider would be big win for All Blacks’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
