‘Special’ rivalry renewed: All Blacks ready for another tough Boks clash

It depends on who you ask, but some rugby fans would consider the rivalry between New Zealand and South Africa to be the best in the world. The rich history of these fierce battles goes back more than 100 Tests and another chapter will be written this weekend.

Rugby fans who call New Zealand home have waited almost a year for a ‘rematch’ between two of the world’s best teams. Following a red card to Sam Cane in the first half of last year’s Rugby World Cup Final, the All Blacks went on to lose 12-11 to the Springboks.

For those of you reading this who were fortunate enough to have been one of the 80,000 rugby-mad fans watching live at Stade de France last October, you’ll agree that time almost stood still at full-time. It’s a cliché but it was a moment that brought an end to a four-year cycle.

But that’s long gone in the past now and it’s not too relevant going into a clash between the All Blacks and Springboks at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park on Saturday. New Zealand have a new coaching group and they’ll be keen on forging their own legacy in South Africa.

“It goes back, you look at the stats, it’s been 100-odd Tests over a long period of time. People come out of everywhere for this game,” Robertson told reporters on Thursday.

“It’s so historic. Every game’s got something special on it and just walking around here in Joburg, everyone’s a fan. There’s a lot of selfies going on and ‘Hey coach.’

“They remember the Crusader days coming over here but the pinnacle for them is the All Blacks. Yeah, the respect for both teams have for each other but this is their moment.”

For the first time since that World Cup Final, Sam Cane has been named in the All Blacks’ starting side. ‘Razor’ Robertson credited the former captain’s experience as the “Test veteran we need” on Saturday evening.

“All that experience and that calmness but also really good, tough shoulders,” that Cane brings will play a big part in proceedings on Saturday, as Robertson explained.

Cane joins fellow 2015 Rugby World Cup winners TJ Perenara, Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett in the All Blacks’ First XV. That’ invaluable experience which, when combined with the nation’s younger talent, this is an All Blacks team that almost seemed to pick itself.

The influence of the more senior players will be crucial.

Because, as any rugby fan would surely unanimously agree, the all-encompassing atmosphere of Ellis Park poses a unique challenge to visiting players. The altitude is one factor, but the steep stands of the world-famous venue and the passion of the fans themselves is next level.

“It’s an iconic field, the ground, the whole experience. You want to have experienced it before, as many players as you possibly can because it’s going to help you in those times of need,” Robertson said on a cold morning in Joburg.

“(There’s) going to be some tough moments out there as we know.

“That composure and tone of voice and the next action word that’s required that they’ll deliver it but also deliver themselves and they know what it takes.”