Rassie highlights desperation ahead of All Blacks clash

BOTH teams will be equally desperate on Saturday at Eden Park when the Springboks face the All Blacks in the first of two Test matches in the Rugby Championship.

- LEIGHTON KOOPMAN

That is the belief of Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus, as his side looks to continue their dominance over the Kiwis, this time away from home, in the Southern Hemisphere tournament.

The world champions will be aiming for a fifth consecutive victory over the current world No 1 side. More importantly, they are chasing a win at Eden Park for the first time since 1937. The Boks are also determined to keep their hopes of back-to-back Rugby Championship titles alive.

New Zealand, on the other hand, will be just as eager to preserve their longstanding unbeaten record at the venue. A streak that dates to 1994, The hosts will also be keen to retain their top spot in the official world rankings.

All these factors, according to Erasmus, could make for a nail-biting affair. However, the coach stopped short of calling this clash the Boks’ biggest since the 2023 World Cup final in Paris - also against the All Blacks.

“Facing the All Blacks away from home is always a challenge, and doing so at Eden Park makes both teams desperate,’ Erasmus said, yesterday.