De Klerk excited by tough All Blacks prospect
Heading back to where his professional career began, Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk is eager to see how the team and the fans in Mbombela will take on the toughest assignment in rugby – a test against New Zealand - this weekend.
Much has been written about the woes of the mighty All Blacks in recent times following an unprecedented series loss to Ireland, however New Zealand is a side that can never be written off.
Despite both coach Ian Foster and captain Sam Cane receiving wide-spread criticism having won one match from their last five; including three defeats to the Irish, and a loss against France.
For De Klerk, he understands what the New Zealand side are going through and believes they will be a different prospect on Saturday.
“I think the motivation is even higher for them,” De Klerk said. “We’ve been in similar situations in the past and we know how it feels to lose two games on the bounce and that’s when a great team stands up.”
It’s not often that New Zealand go into a test with the odds against them and considering the favourites tag sits firmly with the hosts De Klerk doesn’t want that to distract the team.
“We are going to focus firmly on ourselves and make sure that we are ready to go on the weekend and I think we’ve put in the work.
“But when you play against New Zealand for South Africa you don’t need much more than to just run onto that field.”
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The people of Mbombela are riding a rugby wave following the recent Currie Cup triumph of the Pumas and according to De Klerk to Lowveld town is packed as people gear up for a historic first Springbok versus All Blacks test at the Mbombela Stadium.
“With the Pumas doing so well there is a great rugby vibe going on at the moment and I think that people are struggling to find anywhere to stay for the test match.
“That means there’s a lot on this game and people are really backing us and the support has been amazing.”
In their previous six meetings since 2018, the Springboks have won two, the All Blacks have won three and there has been a draw.
The Boks have scored 143 points in those six matches compared to the 151 scored by New Zealand with the biggest winning margin being ten points – the opening clash of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Yokohama.
Apart from that result and the 16-16 draw in Wellington, neither side has won by more than two points in the other four encounters.
