Former Springbok flyhalf Joel Stransky believes the All Blacks have played a defining role in shaping South African rugby, and says that history is what makes the rivalry so special.
Stransky, who famously kicked the drop goal that secured the Springboks’ 1995 Rugby World Cup triumph, compared the relationship between South Africa and New Zealand to one of the fiercest schoolboy rivalries in the country.
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Speaking exclusively to Planet Rugby, Stransky recalled an experience at Paarl Gimnasium’s annual dinner, where he was struck by the way the school celebrated its biggest rival.
“There are two massive schools in Paarl: Paarl Gim and Paarl Boys. They’re the greatest rivals in the whole country,” Stransky said.
“At the dinner, the first thing Paarl Gim did was toast their school. For what it is, how great it is, the people, the men that made them.
“The second toast was to Paarl Boys. Their arch rival, their greatest enemy. Because Paarl Boys have helped define who they are.”
Stransky says that perfectly captures the relationship between the Springboks and All Blacks.
“And I think that’s like our relationship with the All Blacks,” he said.
“We need them to be strong. They were so good for so long, and we chased them and aspired to be as good as them.”
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The Greatest Rivalry tour is now bringing the two heavyweights together for an unprecedented four-Test series in South Africa and the United States, with Stransky hoping the contests live up to the history between the sides.
“We want this to be that great a series that it could go either way before, hopefully, at the end we come out on top,” he said.
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
The post Stransky: Boks need strong All Blacks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Former Springbok flyhalf Joel Stransky believes the All Blacks have played a defining role in shaping South African rugby, and says that history is what makes the rivalry so special.
The post Stransky: Boks need strong All Blacks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
