Clash of epic proportions

There are certain sports events which always get the adrenaline pumping as excitement builds for what lies ahead.

Various World Cups, Olympic Games and world track and field championships are of those events that every ambitious athlete wants to compete in to reach the pinnacle of their powers.

Millions of fans are equally thrilled to witness the fighting spirit of their players as they aim for world success.

This will be much the case on Saturday when one of the most explosive match-ups in world sport plays out in South Africa’s rugby heartland at Loftus Verfeld in Pretoria.

The Springboks host New Zealand’s pride and joy in a Rugby Championship fixture. Expect both to deliver on their promise in an encounter of epic proportions.

That both sides have named their strongest run-on XVs for Saturday’s fixture is a clear sign what both camps feel about this clash.

The Boks, perhaps, even surprised themselves when they edged out their opponents 3634 in Wellington last month. It was that close.

That outcome rocked the foundations of an All Black powerhouse who at the time appear unbeatable.

They now head into the lion’s den and coach Steve Hansen will remind his men that it may be an even tougher contest with the partisan crowd goading the Springboks to go hell for leather yet again.

Past battles between these two nations are clear indicators that it counts for nought when they face each other.

Hansen makes the point that defeat is history and now with a different team on a different occasion essentially it’s a new ballgame.

He promised they will not make the same mistakes again and has made four changes to the team that hammered Argentina in their Championship tussle last weekend.

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus beefed up his side with the trio of Francois Louw, Damian de Allende and Steven Kitshoff with Siya Kolisi still wearing the captain’s armband.

Erasmus knows he walks a tightrope with the fickle Bok supporters. That is why he wants to beat the number one side in the world, which would be massive for the confidence, hopes and aspirations for a team building for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Saturday’s match in many ways may well epitomise what this Bok squad are capable of achieving, being a group hungry for success.

Take nothing away from the All Blacks though. They are at their most dangerous when wounded. How dangerous we will know on Saturday.

One of the most explosive match-ups in world sport plays out in SA’s rugby heartland at Loftus Verfeld