Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said while they expected a desperate performance from the All Blacks in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series decider in Baltimore on Saturday, their inspiration to finish with a win and clinch the trophy was fuelled by making their supporters proud.
Adding to the motivation for the team, it will mark Rassie Erasmus’ 100th Test match in his two roles with the Springboks since his appointment in 2018, as head coach and Director of Rugby.
“We definitely want to win the series,” said Kolisi.
“We don’t want to draw it, and that has been our mindset this week. The All Blacks have brought in new players and we’ve had to look at them and what they could bring differently this weekend, so we’ve done our homework.
“But the key thing for us will be to make sure we enforce our game on them, and pitch up physically on the day.
“We’ve all seen in the last three games that if you are not at your best, they have what it takes to punish you. But so do we, and we want to make sure we keep making our people proud.”
Kolisi elaborated on the magnitude of the match and the series: “We’re growing and learning on the go, because it is a tough series and we’re playing the same opposition four times in a row.
“They get to know you, and you get to know them, so you have to find other ways and other weaknesses. This week we’re playing almost a new All Blacks team compared to last week, and Richie Mo’unga brings a different dynamic, so it might be different from the other games.
“In my experience, it doesn’t get tougher than this. It’s like playing four Rugby World Cup finals in as many weeks given the quality of both teams. We both want to enforce our style of play on the game.
“We may be leading the series, but we know on the other side they are desperate to level it up, so we want to make sure we finish properly tomorrow.”
Stick said it was no surprise to the Bok coaches that Mo’unga would start the match at flyhalf following the All Blacks’ team announcement on Thursday, and he shared his skipper’s sentiments about what the team had to do to be victorious in the inaugural series.
“As coaches, we expected that selection,” said Stick.
“Richie is world class and we know him well. Ruben Love has also been playing really well as one of the young and upcoming stars in that team.
“I think the All Blacks are going to be even more bold tomorrow when it comes to keeping the ball alive and using the wide channels, and we know how dangerous they are.
“But we’ve played against them many times, and the most important aspect for us is to enforce our game on them physically and go from there. They have a top-class team, and they’re desperate to level the series. But we are also a passionate nation and we want to make our country proud.”
Of the intense aura around this match given the high stakes between the two best teams in the world, Kolisi – who will earn his 107th Test cap when he takes the field – said: “What matters within our circle is what we want of each other. What is said outside doesn’t really matter because we do what works for us, and we know who we are and want to stick to the way we play.
“Our system isn’t rigid. We can play set-piece rugby and a kicking game. We don’t have a system that says we have to play a certain way. It’s one that creates opportunities for us to play, so as long as it works, we’ll stick to it, and if it doesn’t, we’ll find a better way to do things.”
Stick was thrilled to see all the Springbok supporters in Baltimore, many of whom are expats who have travelled from different states in the USA to attend the match in Maryland.
“America has been great so far – it’s very humid here, but most guys are used to it, especially those who have played in Durban, where the conditions are similar,” said Stick.
“There are a lot of South Africans here and the vibe is great, so we are excited about the opportunity to promote rugby in the USA. Everywhere you go around the hotel you see green and gold and people are proud to see us, so we want to make sure we represent them and put up a good show.”
Asked if he had experienced something uniquely American this week, Stick said: “I went to watch a baseball game, so I managed to tick off a bucket list item. It’s always nice to learn from other codes. I thought (Kagiso) Rabada (Proteas bowler) was fast until I saw those pitchers. It was an amazing experience.”
The match kicks off at 17h00 (23h00 SA time) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
