Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk admits there’s pressure on him to perform for the world champions after regaining his starting berth to face the All Blacks on Saturday.
South Africa thumped reigning Olympic champions Fiji to win the men’s sevens gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Sunday.
The Blitzboks produced a scintillating performance to thrash Canada and progress to the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games Sevens in Birmingham on Saturday night.
The All Blacks are preparing to face the world champion Springboks, with coach Ian Foster under intense pressure to end their dire run of form after four defeats in their past five matches.
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says the Springboks are concentrated solely on improving their game before preparing for back-to-back Tests against the All Blacks in South Africa.
The Springboks received a timely boost with the inclusion of Duane Vermeulen and Frans Steyn in a 41-man squad chosen for the Rugby Championship, but the injured Cheslin Kolbe is doubtful to recover in time to feature in the tournament.
Siviwe Soyizwapi will lead the South African men’s sevens team at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where Team SA will look to emulate Neil Powell’s 2014 class of gold medallists.
Tickets to the clash between Ireland and the World Cup-holding Springboks at the Aviva Stadium in November have sold out.
Rampant 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam champions France would trample the Springbok pack, according to Leinster icon Isa Nacewa.
Jake White says the Springboks have become “too rigid” in how they play, with the world champions then running the risk of being found out by “the No 1 team in the world”, France.