South African pundit insists Boks can win

The All Blacks’ “lack of desire” could trip them up in Sunday’s Rugby Championship test in Cape Town.

That’s the view of respected South African rugby writer and author Mark Keohane ahead of the teams’ rematch after the 57-0 rout in Albany.

Keohane, writing for South African website Sport24, admits his prediction is optimistic but insists the Boks’ desperation could see them turn the tables three weeks after suffering their biggest test defeat.

“The Springboks can beat New Zealand at Newlands. But . . . and here’s the but . . . it will be more because of New Zealand’s lack of desire than anything else,” Keohane wrote. “The occasion is all set up for a South African victory. The desperation is with South Africa. The match is an ‘after the fact’ test for the All Blacks. They’ve already won the Rugby Championship and the bigger picture for Steve Hansen is the end of year tour.”

Keohane questions whether the All Blacks can “get up” for what is essentially a dead rubber, after the world champions claimed a second successive title last weekend.

“The All Blacks, without question the greatest team in the modern era and the most dominant international sports team of the last decade, have proved to be at their most vulnerable in these so-called dead rubbers. If this was the Rugby Championship decider, I’d never even contemplate the possibility of the Springboks getting a win, but it’s not a Championship decider.

“The All Blacks, in all their test matches this season, have also looked decidedly disinterested once the match seemingly has been won, which in many instances in this Rugby Championship season has been within 30 minutes of kick-off.”

The Kiwis’ inability to play 80 minutes of quality rugby — as pointed out by assistant coach Ian Foster yesterday — could haunt them, Keohane says.

“He [Foster] acknowledged the effort against the Springboks in Albany was the exception and described the 57-0 win as special in result and performance.”