Nortje ‘will give everything’ for SA

SPRINGBOK lock Ruan Nortje says it has not fully sunk in that he is about to achieve his childhood dream of playing for the Springboks against the All Blacks in New Zealand.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

The 27-year-old featured in the Boks’ two home victories over the All Blacks in last year’s Rugby Championship, but he has not faced the old foe on their own soil — let alone at Eden Park, the New Zealand fortress where the All Blacks have won their last 50 matches, stretching back to 1994.

In fact, of the match 23 selected for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash in Auckland, only veterans Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi have played at Eden Park before.