Springboks a Wounded Beast, Warns All Blacks Captain Savea

Springboks a wounded beast, warns All Blacks captain Savea

The All Blacks and Springboks, ranked first and second in the world, clash before a sell-out 55,000 crowd in Cape Town on Saturday. New Zealand gave Rugby World Cup title-holders South Africa a lesson in clinical finishing last weekend, outscoring the hosts five tries to one for a 33-16 triumph in Johannesburg. But No.8 Savea is wary as the All Blacks try to become the first team since the 1997 British and Irish Lions to win successive Tests ag…

‘We understand the wounded beast’: All Blacks skipper braces for inevitable Bok response

The Springboks have not lost back-to-back tests at home against the same opponent since 1997 (the British and Irish Lions).

How the All Blacks plan to counter inevitable Springboks backlash

All Blacks v Springboks, 3am Sunday Liam Napier in Cape Town Cape of Storms is the original name given to the southernmost point of Cape Town. Portuguese...

All Blacks 'bar up' for Bok backlash

Having beefed up his All Blacks pack to match the physicality of the Springboks, coach Dave Rennie is bracing for a much-improved effort from South Africa on Saturday, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.  Rennie was speaking on Thursday at New Zealand’s team announcement press conference for the second Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in Cape Town, where the Kiwis can clinch a 2-0 lead.  “We’re aware of what the potential bounce-back [could be]. …