ABs plan to silence Soweto
Oct 04,2012
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says the best way to negate the influence of Saturday's crowd at Soccer City is to give them nothing to cheer about.
The Springboks host the Rugby Championship's first winners in what is becoming an iconic venue in world sport with over 80 000 spectators expected at the stadium rebuilt for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The Kiwis stunned the massive crowd the last time they visited Soweto, when a last-minute try ruined John Smit's 100th cap appearance.
This time it's the visitors who will be able to boost an impressive number of caps in their team with ten players having 40 or more and Hansen believes that experience will be invaluable.
"It is a massive challenge to play at Soccer City and it doesn't come much bigger than facing South Africa at a venue like that but we have a lot of experience going through the spine of our team," said Hansen.
"We know that the South Africans will get in behind their players and it is going to be a massive challenge but in the end it's going to be a game played between the same white lines that all the other games at other venues are, and this team has experience of winning all over the world.
"If you go in with the right attitude it doesn't matter where the game is being played.
"What we need to do is just do something early in the game that will keep the fans quiet. We did it in Argentina last week, where we also played in front of a massive home crowd.
"Playing top opponents at an away venue is always a big challenge, but speaking for myself here, big challenges are what you enjoy most when you are involved in top-level sport.
"While the modern rugby player can play anywhere and gets used to playing in different environments, this is a venue that players do get excited about. I know our team is excited about playing there, and I am sure the Boks are too."
Skipper Kieran Read added that despite having already claimed the Rugby Championship title, this match was incredibly important to the All Blacks.
"If you want to be recognised as the best you can't just win at home. I know we won in Argentina last week, but this is a particularly big challenge for us and it doesn't come much bigger than playing the Springboks at a venue like this. It's a very important game for us," said Read.
"Winning against the Boks in Soweto will solidify where we are, it will confirm our status. We want to be the top team, we want to be the number one team in the world, and beating the Boks will confirm that.
"Steve Hansen sets high standards, and he has been working hard this week at finding ways to ensure that we retain our intensity and that we are ready mentally."
Comments (31)
Oct 04, 2012 at 19:55:45
Woo ...woo mal, where's all this garbage coming from who said argies be bigger challenge, no NZ that's for sure think your own media creating great story's my friend guess they need some attention. Overconfidence I hardly don't think so anyone who watched a testAB vs BOK being played in SA will know this is a tough mission, the hardest test to win in the world even for a good all black side. This will be close there's no disrespect in losing to the South Africans in SA just ask any all black.
Oct 04, 2012 at 20:01:35
Actually Papamoa it came from the mouth of Kevin Mealamu who said the test in Argentina will be their greatest test of the year although he was referring more the forwards battle which still is ridiculous seeing that the Boks forwards gave them a horrid time in Dunedin. Here is the link: http://sport.howzit.msn.com/rugby/news/pumas_pack_nz_s_biggest_challenge_445420/12-09-25 ....
We'll see on the weekend if the Pumas was really the toughest test!
Oct 04, 2012 at 20:14:22
Sure at the time but he knows that this will be even harder to win. SA threw out history have been AB. Arch rivals we've played boks 43 times in SA won 18 drawn 1 all NZ know that playing SA in SA is by far hardest tests to win anything else you may hear is crap. All black camp are under no illusion of what's ahead of them. Tough crowd, boks morph into a solid powerhouse at home.
Oct 04, 2012 at 20:25:13
Good test for your Goosen against Carter expect hell have his defensive ability tested and how much pressure he can handle. Forwards will be in for a grueling game, break downs need to be pretty ruthless who ever can get quick ball and forward momentum will hold the key to the test.
Oct 04, 2012 at 21:58:24
Mealamu I think rated the Argentinian pack as the best, and at that time based on their performance against the other teams was probably accurate. The tone from SA posters seems positively vitriolic, where as I think kiwi fans respect the Boks,some Bok fans seem to hate the AB's purely because they are the best at the moment and the Boks aren't. Actually I've said this before but the AB's are in a win-win situation regardless of the result, cause they still remain the #1 team in the world, still RWC champions and still Rugby Championship holders, but am sure they'll want to finish on a high note.
Oct 04, 2012 at 22:44:02
Bru we r only hostile to some of u,,, read some older articles,, and u will see the sick shit some of your countrymen spew at us,,, nuke is the worst he insults our churches,, way of life,,, even our whores,,,, so no offence meant but if u want vitriolic,,, look no further than nuke and his mates...
Oct 05, 2012 at 04:43:22
Stop whinging bro. Have you forgotten all the death threats made against nukie,, the gloating about the Christchurch earthquake, the comment about my son being demon spawn and my wife being a drug addict. Not to mention the standard repertois of anti NZ ad hominens. I have NEVER gotten personal with my remarks and I try to keep them rugby based. You okes are such sensitive prats that whenever a kiwi says something that isn't flattering of the limp boks you okes get all raucous and rabid as if I'd just slapped your mother. You okes always seem to claim the moral high ground even when faced with an avalanche of contrary evidence. Oh we'll, keep em coming mal. You chops are good at playing the victim card and carrying on as though you had NEVER made inflammatory, anti kiwi anti nuke remarks.
Talking about overconfidence have you not been reading the comments from your own cointren on this for where the fanboys are talking about the boks embarrassing the ABs this weekend. Once again mal. You need to open bothe eyes and not ignore the indiscretions of your cocksure compatriots then whinge an complain when kiwis reply in kind.
Oct 05, 2012 at 09:33:26
lol my bro do not be offended as I have been on this forum for only a week and I hav already been attacked by some very angry South Africans.
Oct 05, 2012 at 09:41:02
World Champs??? Of what exactly?? hahahaha.....
Oct 05, 2012 at 10:16:36
LIKE I SAID, CHARITY CHAMPIONS. EVEN IF THEY WIN ON SATERDAY THAT DOESNT TAKE AWAY THE FACT THAT A KIWI REF FOOKED UP HIS CAREER FOR HIS COUNTRY LOL WHAT A JOKE. I WAS JUST WAITING TO McCAW GET PLASTERED INFRONT OF NZ IN THE FINAL AS HIS AND THE REST OF THE TEAM WERE LOOSING FORM SO FAST. AND YOU THINK YOU WORTHY CHAMPIONS ALL YOU ARE A DAY TO DAY GAME BY GAME WINNERS NOT WORLD CHAMPIONS. WHAT HAPPEN IN THAT WC WAS A DISGRACE TO RUGBY. YOU CAN NEVER WEAR THAT TITLE WITH PRIDE.
Oct 05, 2012 at 10:37:10
Speaking of charity champions, does anyone remember the 1995 semi? You know. That's the game where Derek Bevan disallowed a game winning try to Abdel Bennazzi against the Boks. Louis Luyt famously awarded Derek an extravagant gold watch for his troubles and named him the " best ref in the world". Lol. Yet another glaring example of the one eyed wet pantied saffa fanboys refusing to acknowledge their own fortuitous and undeserved RWC record. .
Then of course there was the 2007 debacle with Barnes. You remember. Thats the game where NZ werent awarded a penalty for 60 minutes, a game where a missed drop goal counted as a penalty advantage ( rather than awarding a penalty to Luke so he could kick unmolested from a tee) a game where luke macalister was sin binned for running obstruction (pffft a ref call ihave never seen repeated before or since that game, an. Then if course there was that forward pass. Bro if you are so concerned about charity champs look no further than your iwn stale limp boks. You chops have won two charity RWCs and you have the temerity to whinge when the ABs beat a French side that didn't even deserve to be in the final. Build a bridge bro and get over it. This marathon saffa whinge is the source of great comfort to many kiwis. Just knowing you okes are crying into tannies frilly knickers makes me feel all warm and giddy. Hehehe!
Oct 05, 2012 at 12:12:30
And yet another example of your knowledge of the inner workings of SA rugby... Dude, we know you're a Saffa, give it up already! Also, why not try some different insults as opposed to "wet pantied fanboys; marathon whinge; limp boks" etc, the terms have lost all meaning...just a thought.
Cue your most predictable response....yawn.
Oct 05, 2012 at 11:57:37
Ai malles, jy weet mos nuke is eintlik 'n armsalige, bitter Suid-Afrikaner..
Oct 05, 2012 at 09:11:34
lucky to be world Champs as the French nearly and should have KO'D you guys in the final. Saturday will determine if you guys are worthy champions. Now try not get your knickers in a twist over my comments now boys
Oct 04, 2012 at 23:35:43
There's always a fool somewhere I work along side many SA there great bunch of guys to watch rugby with. Most kiwis I know hold the Springboks with very high regard there team is rebuilding but still a force to reckon with
AB will be keen to have another win achieving 16. Looks like the Boks are keener to have a run instead of kicking, goosen should be the play maker, but he'll have to deal with nonu, smith and carter. Bekker looks like he'll be a tough competitor. Should be a great test
Oct 05, 2012 at 10:20:11
Mate you sound like a well cool guy and there was a great level of respect between our teams that i looked up to, but over the years iv heard some stupid shit from some of your boys now the respect is gone. The only way any of us get it back is by winning. This is what winning has been reduced to by the best in the world. The fight at the top is tough so there is no time for sweet talk anymore. It is what it is.
Oct 05, 2012 at 10:53:15
Good grief maybe change of website mate, thought I'd have some good debate with springboks but maybe I'm wrong. Respect looks lost and replaced with rubbish and dribble and totally un rugby related. This is a sport after all not a chance to desecrate each others culture. As far as I know ex test players have huge respect as current players do for each other anything else is foolishness. Nothing wrong with being competive but to a friggan point. NZ people I know respect SA players there the one team we can handle losing to.....well we don't like losing but better SA than the ozzies. Take Victor Matfield now he was a legend of the sport of rugby all kiwis respected his skill and leadership and the man.
Oct 05, 2012 at 19:04:41
Lol like i said you sound cool mate. Its all good. Going to be a great game. Just a sport at the end of the day and the supporters should always remember that they arent the ones bleeding for their country. Enjoy the match matee.
Oct 05, 2012 at 22:58:23
the only fool is you matey. So what island are you from now?????
Oct 05, 2012 at 02:07:00
The tests played between these two GREAT rugby nations has and always will be the biggest Rugby show case played anywhere in the world especially when played in SA. The All Blacks have never and will never undermine the BOKS ever!!!! …. I AGREE the All Blacks and the Bok supporters give each other hell and always will BUT there is and always will be a huge amount of respect both ways. The Rivalry between these two nations is healthy and always a good thing.
Oct 05, 2012 at 04:05:12
Well said brother!!
As for "over confidence", I don't think so and if any team can feel confident and hold their head the highest, it IS the All Blacks. Simple as that. A team that goes to SA without confidence will lose. SA crowds are passionate but 2 tries in 20 minutes will render them all but silent lol. All Blacks by 15+
Oct 05, 2012 at 10:25:14
The only silence you will get is if you shut up with that kaka sorry haka what ever you call it!
Oct 04, 2012 at 17:15:07
Gonna be eating some serious humble pie on Saturday, these clowns are seriously over confident!
Oct 04, 2012 at 19:34:36
Ja,, agreed,, full of overconfidence and a bit of arrogance,,, hope they see their asses man,,,, last week they were saying that the argies r a bigger challenge than us,,, this week they claiming the bok challenge is the ultimate,,, hypocrites man,,, ag well I hope we trample them into the ground, we need another win to restore some pride and boost the fans as well as the players,,,kom Bokke !!!