Kiwis the ultimate test

ALL BLACKS: AMBITIOUS BOKS KEEN TO GAUGE THEMSELVES AGAINST BEST New Zealand have set the pace for the last eight years.

As South Africans we have to realise that the Springboks are still some distance behind the All Blacks in world rugby, said Bok coach Allister Coetzee.

While the Bok coach found big positives from their 23-23 draw against the Wallabies last weekend, Coetzee said the challenge of facing the All Blacks this weekend in Albany would be massive.

“New Zealand is the benchmark,” Coetzee said in New Zealand yesterday. “This contest is an exciting opportunity for our young team to measure ourselves against the best rugby team.

“We have showed a lot of improvement up to now and last weekend in Perth was another opportunity for the side to gain experience. However, we are now facing a team who don’t seem to have any weaknesses.

“They have great leadership and world-class players, while Beauden Barrett is their catalyst. The patience and discipline of the All Blacks are some of their key strengths, so for us it will be a great occasion to measure ourselves.”

Coetzee used the world rankings, where the Kiwis have held on to the No 1 ranking for the past eight years as an example, while the Boks have climbed to third after being down to seventh at the start of the international season.

“Just look at the points difference on the world rankings then you will see there’s a massive gap there between us and them, I think there’s a8, 9, 10 (percentage) points difference,” said Coetzee.

The All Blacks have won the last four matches against the Boks including a record 57-15 thrashing in Durban last year.

But the Bok coach said they have made big strides this year and would look to continue their progress against the best team in the world.

“It’s going to be a big challenge for us and a massive opportunity and to really gauge ourselves to compete against this All Black side this year,” he said.

Coetzee names his line-up on Thursday and will reveal who will take over the No 3 jersey from Coenie Oosthuizen who has returned home with a broken arm.

Wellington – New Zealand are expecting a vintage challenge from a resurgent South Africa side in their top-of-the-table Rugby Championship encounter in Auckland next weekend.

All Blacks-Springboks clashes are always among the highlights of the Test season but the rivalry lost some of its edge last year after the world champions won 41–13 at home and 57-15 in Durban.

South Africa have rebounded from their miserable 2016, however, and go into Saturday’s match at North Harbour stadium only three points behind the All Blacks after a 23-23 draw with Australia at the weekend.

“We all know the way the South Africans play,” All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick (right) told local media yesterday.

“We’ve seen the last couple of weeks how physical they’ve been, especially up front. As always, they’re big boys and they like to come at you.

“Every Test is special, but from what we’ve seen so far in the Rugby Championship, they’ve had two great wins over Argentina and they’ll be a little bit frustrated with the draw against Australia in Perth.

“They’ll be coming here with a bit of anger, and with the skill and physicality they have, I’m sure it’s going to be a good spectacle.”

Coach Steve Hansen has been experimenting so it remains to be seen if the Boks will have to contend with rookie flanker Vaea Fifita, who burned the Pumas defence to score a try in his first Test start last Saturday. – Reuters