The Springboks completed their World Cup preparations with an impressive 35-7 rout of 14-man New Zealand at Twickenham in England on Friday evening.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said the Boks would hold nothing back in their final Rugby World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand at a sold-out Twickenham on Friday evening, in what they described as the perfect preparation for the international spectacle in France.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made eight personnel changes – and one positional switch – to his starting lineup for the final warm-up game, against the All Blacks at Twickenham on Friday, as he continued to fine tune preparations for the opening Rugby World Cup clash against Scotland in just under three weeks.
Vodacom Bulls assistant coach Chris Rossouw has compared Kurt-Lee Arendse to All Black great Christian Cullen and believes the Bulls and Springbok star will only get better.
One of global rugby’s greatest rivalries, between South Africa and New Zealand, will be reignited at Twickenham in London later this month with the two nations playing for a brand-new trophy, the Qatar Airways Cup, on Friday 25 August.
Springbok scrumhalf Grant Williams is confident that South Africa can build from their defeat against the All Blacks as they look to bounce back against Argentina in their final Castle Lager Rugby Championship match.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber lamented his team’s hesitant start in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship Test that paved the way to a 35-20 defeat in Auckland.
New Zealand made a big statement in a World Cup year following their 35-20 win over South Africa in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday.
Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and hooker Bongi Mbonambi made it clear on Friday that they expected a massive battle against the All Blacks at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland on Saturday in the second round of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, but they said they were ready for the challenge.
Springboks captain Eben Etzebeth look set to play against New Zealand in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship on Saturday despite the death of his father.