Cape Town has been a happy hunting ground for New Zealand, who must beat reigning world champions South Africa there on Saturday to have a chance of retaining the Rugby Championship.
The Springboks edged the All Blacks 31-27 last Saturday to build an eight-point lead halfway through the annual six-round southern hemisphere competition.
Southwestern coastal city Cape Town has hosted 10 matches between the rugby union giants and New Zealand have won seven, including four of five in the professional era.
AFP Sport looks at five things to know ahead of the highly anticipated showdown, which will be watched by a capacity 60,000 crowd.
Record bid
South Africa are seeking four consecutive wins over New Zealand for the first time in the professional era after edging their greatest rivals in a Johannesburg thriller last weekend.
The run of victories began a month before the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France with the Springboks taking advantage of the red-carding of All Blacks lock Scott Barrett to triumph 35-7 in London.
They clashed again in the World Cup final and New Zealand again had to play more than half the match a man short after captain Sam Cane was sent off, leading to a 12-11 loss.
Ever-present Sacha
Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the 22-year-old find of the Springboks season, is the only ever-present in the world champions’ matchday 23 this year.
He will be on the bench in Cape Town, having started three of the previous seven internationals and been a replacement in the other four.
He is the Springboks’ leading scorer with 49 points from 14 conversions and seven penalties. Rival fly-half Handre Pollard is his closest challenger with 36 points.
Durban drubbing
The Springboks and the All Blacks have won 26 matches each in South Africa with one drawn since they first met at a Durban cricket ground 96 years ago.
It was in the Indian Ocean port city that South Africa suffered their most humiliating home defeat, crumbling 57-15 to New Zealand in 2016 at Kings Park stadium.
But it was not all gloom in Durban for the Springboks as they achieved their biggest home victory — 17-0 — against the All Blacks there.
Final survivors
The Springboks matchday 23 for Cape Town includes 13 of the players who featured in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final triumph over the All Blacks.
Among them is recalled fly-half Pollard, whose four first-half penalty goals from four attempts proved decisive at the Stade de France.
There also 13 survivors from the All Blacks matchday 23, including the Barrett brothers, centre Jordie, skipper Scott and replacement back Beauden.
Switching roles
The same three referees who handled the Johannesburg Test last Saturday will be involved in the rematch in Cape Town.
But only Australian assistant Jason Way will have the same task with Ellis Park referee Andrew Brace from Ireland and English assistant Matthew Carley switching roles.
There will be a change of TMO (television match official) with Ian Tempest from England taking over from Brian MacNeice of Ireland.
dl/jc
Article courtesy of
Source link
