Skipper Jean de Villiers says the Springboks will have to eradicate even the smallest error from their play to have a chance of beating the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship.
South Africa warmed up for Saturday’s Test in Auckland with their biggest ever win over the Wallabies on Australian soil, a 38-12 victory that lifted them a point clear at the top of the table and fuelled anticipation for the Eden Park showdown.
But De Villiers says that, while the scoreboard in Brisbane looked good, the South Africans felt their overall execution could have been better.
They don’t expect the All Blacks to give them as many opportunities.
“The venue where we’re playing at is not a place where a lot of people come and win,” the inside centre said on Thursday.
“We will have to play better than we’ve ever played.
“We will have to make basically no mistakes and we will have to make sure the ball bounces in our direction.”
The All Blacks haven’t lost at Eden Park since they went down to France in 1994.
Their unbeaten run of 31 Tests there started with an 18-18 draw against South Africa and continued with 30 consecutive victories.
The last Springboks success at the ground was achieved by their great 1937 side, who took the deciding third Test 17-6.
“No one has won here in Auckland in a Test,” De Villiers said of the present squad.
“But we have won in New Zealand, and that does show that nothing is impossible.
“It’s first of all a massive challenge, but secondly one we can really look forward to because I don’t think a lot of people expect us to win.”
Of De Villiers’ 90 Tests, 19 have been against New Zealand, beginning with Christchurch in 2004, when he began “with a bang”.
Playing on the wing, he scored in the opening minute but his future Ulster teammate Doug Howlett touched down at the death as the home side snatched a 23-21 victory.
South Africa prevailed in the return fixture that year and De Villiers, 32, has gone on to taste victory over the All Blacks eight times.
On Saturday, he will mark a familiar opponent in Ma’a Nonu, who is back after recovering from an ankle injury.
He said Nonu was someone he respected on the field and enjoyed having a chat with off it.
He was surprised the former Hurricanes and Blues player, who turned out for the Highlanders this year, didn’t have a Super Rugby team confirmed yet for 2014.
“We can do with a couple of backline players at the Stormers,” De Villiers said.
“And Cape Town is not a bad place.”
Nova
Guest
As per usual the ref had the biggest impact on the game.......
dsat24
atlas, the game of the year is the game against England in November not tonight's game. Tonight's game in all reality is an occasion but not a grand occasion in my view. Due to Argies blowing their first game in SA it slants the rest of the comp to SA favour. Tonights game shoulld run to advantage AB at home, by 10 or more. And in the sailing in typical kiwi fashion are all the whinging about costs and legals shmeegles, and to a degree justifiably so, the wagons have now been hitched to the bandwagon as the kiwis are winning comfortably. All they have to do is show up now really to win and bring it to NZ for the next defender series. Interestingly, Americas Cup sailing mirrors rugby internationally where kiwis are over achievers.
richard
Guest
A large proportion of immigrants are from Asia (China,India etc) who,at best would only have a passing interest in the game.Contrary to myths about rugby being the "national religion",that couldn't be further from the truth. A changing demographic,and competition from other sports mean rugby now has to fight like any other sport for the discretionary dollar and public support.For example,most air-time and attention has been focused on the America's Cup this week.Yet,you could argue the biggest rugby test of the year so far has played second fiddle!
Reuben Budd
Roar Rookie
Actually now it's only 3hrs to kickoff the nerves are starting kick in, please ignore all above said comments, GO THE MIGHTY ALL BLACKS, make us proud once again you Legends!!!!!!
Edward
Guest
No but it is a warning that the new generations do not have the same interest and how important the rivalry with South Africa is because it is they who still produce the money. Time to get rid of SANZAR and go back to the traditional tours between the Boks and ABs. The Wobblies just cause dissension because of the way the ARU treats SA.
deanB
Guest
There was a poll conducted in NZ just as the RWC began. 50% were interested,50% had no interest at all. Does this mean Kiwis are only half mad about rugby?
Edward
Guest
Former All Black (and Cavalier!) Murray Mexted had this to say a couple of days ago: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11121973 Every international team have their strengths but the Springboks are a particularly physical side - it's been the same since year dot. The physical confrontation is what blows away most of the Springbok opposition and we are one of the few teams in the world who can handle the physical factor. We saw in the weekend that the Wallabies can't handle it, but we can. When a Springbok team are playing well, the only side in the world who can beat them are New Zealand and sometimes we can't beat them either, which is why I think they are our number one adversary. The Australians have had their moments through being clever and playing a good brand of rugby but they lack the physical presence of the Springboks, who are big, strong men used to playing at a fast pace in good conditions. The game of rugby is all about winning the contest areas and the Springboks are pretty effective at that. They treat us with high regard and have incredible respect for the All Blacks and New Zealand rugby players because we can beat them and are very consistent in our performance levels. They don't have the same regard for other teams, I'm pretty positive about that. We toured over there for weeks and it was very hard to win with local referees in South Africa and that is a fact, not an accusation, and I think it was similar for them here in New Zealand. I played three tests when they toured here in 1981 and then for the Cavaliers in 1986 and of course in the Currie Cup. They were and still are our greatest adversaries and they play a fast and powerful style of rugby which is a challenge for any loose forward. They are the ultimate challenge - a test of your rugby manhood in many respects. Long may it continue, it's a great contest.
Cheers mate. I do hope we make a game of it.
atlas
Guest
tbh I'm getting the big 'don't care' from NZ, rugby-ed out or whatever, but 'whatever' seems to be the tone seems they are all focused on a yachting race/s (is that even a sport?) in USA Today's NZ Herald site - front page - has ten articles/stories on Americas Cup, 2 about this test and 3 more on rugby (Nonu to France?) and the real big game in (south) Auckland tomorrow where 18,000 capacityare expected to cheer Tana Umaga's Counties-Manukau team defending the Ranfurly Shield v Taranaki
Nobody
Guest
Good luck BB. If your boks are going to be the first winners against the ABs in Eden park this century, they'll have to bring their A game. Can they do that in the wet? If not I can't say I won't be celebrating, but for what it's worth if they do then there's nobody I'd rather us have lost to than you guys. Respect.
My humblest apologies Jamie. I will never speak of this again.
Jamie
Guest
Talk it up. Why are you Saffas so obsessed with using travel as an excuse? Is it just because your away record is so horrible? First of all you played Argentina twice. They had to come to SA & then both teams travelled to Argentina. No disadvantage there. Then there is a bye week, this means that you should have no complaints about travelling to Australia. You have ample time for body recovery, to shake of any jet lag & to acclimatize & surely the performance & result suggests that the Boks weren't disadvantaged at all. And then it's from Aus to NZ, a 3 hour flight & similar time zone is barely worth a mention. You Saffas have certainly always played that card when complaining about the disadvantage of your location & time zone. The AB's went from Argentina to South Africa last season & won both games comfortably, it's all in the mind. You should have no complaints, especially with the bye weeks introduced.
I think the AB supporters are more nervous than the Bok supporters. Why? Cause we have nothing to lose, we may be hoping we win, but we all know the chances of that is slim, we win, we party for a week :)
WQ
Guest
I'm with you mace 22, bugger all this talk about losing! I am not sure this match will live up to the hype though, the conditions look like they will be ordinary. I am hoping the Springboks develop the Wallabies good match, bad match routine of a couple of season's ago. If that is the case then they are due for the bad match routine today! Whilst I think the All Blacks will win, I would much rather have Ritchie on the paddock for this match..
Simon, whether we win or lose, the selection of overseas players for me is not about who is right or wrong. For me it is a matter of principle. I know Francois Louw is playing great rugby, I know Habana is in great form, etc. The principle to me is simple. Money or honour. It is the last value of Amateur Rugby I fastidiously hold onto.
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
BBK, I see the test between the ABs and the Boks as a comparison of business models. South Africa have clearly shown they have a better selection model to Australia with more depth available from the mixing of local and overseas players Vs Australia's preferred "Boys for Men" policy. This was evidenced by Australia getting smashed at home in Brissy. Now South Africa are about to test their business model against a much more difficult opposition, the world champion ABs, who like Australia exclude overseas based players from their squad. I think South Africa have the superior model, and because you and many like you are unconvinced. I want SA to beat NZ at home in the rain. Perhaps this will create some more doubt in your mind about who has got it right.
mace 22
Guest
I'm very nervous about todays game. I want to read more comments from one eyed all black fans. I want to read how it's all an illusion this springbok renaissance. That this sprinbok team haven't changed and still are just a pack of big bullies on the field, and the backs are just introducing them selves to each other after the haka. To all those AB's fans who say that if the blacks have to loose, they don't mind if it's to the SB's . No, If the AB's loose it hurts just the same no matter who it is. Go the mighty all blacks.
mace 22
Guest
I think this travel factor is an excuse the loser can pull out. The all blacks don't seem to worry about travel. Last year the all blacks travelled from new zealand to south america to africa in anout ten days and still won both games. The SB's at least have two weeks to aclimatise for todays game. The only game that travel could be a factor was last weeks game against australia. They seemed to handle that ok.
DR
Guest
Hey Mace, should of said it wasn't done all the time but in traditional clashes. Went to Silverstream myself. We used to play you boys from memory?
mace 22
Guest
When i was at school the only teams that did haka where the maori schools or schools from highly moari populated areas. It was awesome. I went to Gisborne boys high school. We used to play te aute and Saint stephens ( two maori schools ) during the year. Usd to get as much fired up from their haka as ours.