As the All Blacks prepare for another showdown against the Springboks, Cam Roigard highlights the need for a more clinical performance after a close defeat last week. Meanwhile, Jordie Barrett remains optimistic about sharing the spoils in what's dubbed Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
Roenigard expressed his thoughts on the previous game, noting the lost opportunities that allowed the Springboks to take a 2-1 series lead. The defeat, which happened at FNB Stadium with a scoreline of 29-24, reflected moments where the All Blacks didn’t capitalize fully.
“We created a lot of opportunities. We got ourselves in the right area of the field, but we missed two or three opportunities particularly in that second half, which against a team like South Africa, it’s not good enough,” Roigard said.
He further explained the tactical pressure the South Africans are known to exert, emphasizing the importance of avoiding errors.
“South Africans don't want to make errors, so they’re gonna try and put pressure on us through set-piece, through kicking and whatnot. When we’re making mistakes, that’s just fuel in their game.”
It was Roigard's first tour in South Africa, where he faced the unique challenge of playing the same opponent four consecutive times, a rarity for the All Blacks except for a similar sequence during the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season.
“Playing the same team four times in a row is pretty unique, but we’re gonna get a lot of growth out of it, and hopefully we can be better this week for sure,” the scrumhalf added.
In a discussion on Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast, Jordie Barrett shared insights into the intense schedule and mental demands placed on the players, especially following such a pivotal match in Soweto.
“We poured a whole lot of mental and physical energy into the Test in Soweto, came off second best and four hours later we’re sitting across an aisle on a chartered flight with the Boks straight to Baltimore,” Barrett detailed.
Despite the challenges, Barrett is focused on the opportunity that lays ahead in Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium, where the series decider will unfold.
“This Greatest Rivalry was always a four-game series … we’ve got a chance to go two-all against them and that’s the opportunity that excites us this weekend,” noted Barrett, who is also a contender to lead the team in the absence of the injured Ardie Savea.
The upcoming game promises to be another thrilling chapter in this historic rivalry, with both teams eager to claim the series victory. As the anticipation builds, the stakes couldn’t be higher for both the All Blacks and the Springboks.
