Boks need to break pattern

Trevor Stevens

Loftus Versfeld is an intimidating ground for visiting teams. During their glory years when they won three Super Rugby titles, from 2007 to 2010, playing the Bulls in front of their passionate fans was always a big ask for visiting teams.

Just ask the Reds after their 2007 humiliation. The Bulls, needing to win by 72 points to secure a home Super Rugby semifinal, put their foot down in the second half to win 92-3 – still a Super Rugby record for the largest winning margin.

The vocal crowd spurred on the home side’s rolling mauls from almost anywhere on the park and flyhalf Derick Hougaard kept slotting them through the posts against the backdrop of Ge Korsten’s Liefling blaring from loudspeakers.

The Springboks also enjoy playing at Loftus, the venue for this afternoon’s final Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks.

Over the years, the Boks have lost only eight of 35 Tests at the ground. They have scored 1 140 points and conceded just over half of that with 680.

They have scored 135 tries and only leaked 68 in return.

All in all, a good ground for the men in green and gold, you’d think?

Not entirely. The Springboks’ record at Loftus against the All Blacks is shocking, losing four of the five Tests against New Zealand in Pretoria.

In fact, you’ll have to go back as far as 1970, under the leadership of Dawie de Villiers, to find their sole victory over the All Blacks at Loftus – a close-fought 17-6 victory.

Since then, they have lost 26-33 (1996), 18-33 (1999), 16-52 (2003) and 26-45 (2006) at Loftus to the men in black, which is why the administrators probably waited 12 years before inviting the All Blacks back.

I’ll never forget my first experience at the ground. In 1994, my dad picked me up from school sport on a Saturday and we rushed to get to Loftus in time to watch the Boks play England.

Sitting on the bleachers before the start of the match, the atmosphere was out of this world. The songs, the characters in the stands, the entire experience.

But Rob Andrew and company broke South African hearts. England went on to win 32-15, and most went home grumpy.

Let’s hope today won’t be one of those days ...