SARrugby.com

 If anyone wants a decent insight into what makes McCaw and the All Blacks tick I'd suggest picking up his autobiography, one of the better Rugby Bio's I've read...interesting thoughts on of the Springboks are offered, particularly in so much as it's not uncommon for the AB's and Boks to have a beer after tests, something the AB's have not done with Robbie Deans Wallabies...

It's more about kinship than mutual respect. There are a lot more kinship and respect between the boks and the Blacks than their supporters on this site. Maybe you and a few others can take a leaf out of that book.(edit: Myself included)

 There are some quality posters on this site, I enjoy the Moz/Saff banter, you chuck up good stuff Draad - but there is some absolute dross also, happy to accept other opinions I won't apologise for calling out pure trolling posters, and there's only really 2 maybe 3 on this site....actually maybe 5-6 if you count the kiwi trolls...

I'm not so sure it is about kinship - Kiwis and Aussies are typically closer I believe than Kiwis/Saffas due purely to having more in common.  Many ABs have gone on to have close off friendships with many Wallabies - Marshall/Gregan, Kearns/Fitzpatrick, McCaw/Gregan - but under Deans he's tended to close up shop a bit, the Boks haven't done that by all accounts, this fact and playing together for the BaaBaas has seen Richie and Schalk develope a friendship, after his 100th Super rugby match in Newlands Schalk gave Richie a case of wine from his families vineyard, a class move, especially considering the amount of time these two have spent trying to knock 7 bells out of each other.

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 Does he talk about his play on the ground and from offside positions? Or at least of what other people like the opposition say about this?

There always have been close ties between tthe players and in some cases on a wider basis.   After the 1960 tour a Maori family named their son Jan Engelbrecht - because they regarded him as the best wing in the world.   Engelbrecht visited the son and his family when he was coach in the 1990's and kept vlose ties with the family since the 1960's.

Naas Botha's mother married a New Zealander and moved there in the 1970's.

There were through the years close ffriendships between many new Zealand and SA players and the list is virtually endless.   Burger and McCaw was mentioned - but their are large numbers of others as well.

Over the years their was a tradition after tests to have braais behind the eastern pavillion of Kings Park  after tests and Super Series games.   Our group was often joined by New Zealand players and had a ball - generally very nice and friendly guys.

The animosity often displayed on this board is uncalled for and does not reflect the true relationship between the top two rugby playing nations in the world.