Will the All Blacks make it 23 in a row? (Published in the Roar)

 By Hugo, 14 Sep 2013 

Currently New Zealand have recorded 22 consecutive wins playing at home, so they’ll have history on their side when they play the South Africa in Auckland on Saturday.

But will they make it win number 23 on the trot? I’m going answer my own question with a resounding yes.

Here are four reasons why:

1. While many major rugby teams claim to have fortresses, Eden Park is probably the hardest of all to storm. It hasn’t been breached for 19 years, when Saint-Andre’s team did the trick by three points.

2. The Haka. An ex-Springbok once told me that when you line up to face the haka in New Zealand, you can’t help thinking, “My God, I’m playing the All Blacks on their patch. Your confidence is rocked and it’s a lot harder to focus.”

3. New Zealand have strike runners all over the place. Like Aaron Smith who scored two tries last week, Dan Carter who made the break and a long run that led to a try, Nonu who has surprising acceleration for a big guy, Conrad Smith who knows how to play Test 13, and a great back three in Ben Smith, Israel Dagg and Julian Savea.

Savea, at 6 feet 4, 109 Kgs, can steam down the sideline like early Caucaunibuca. The Boks have some dangerous runners too, but not at 9 or 10.

4. I believe the All Blacks will have a technically better scrum while the Boks get the nod in the lineouts.

I also believe the New Zealand back row will win the breakdown. Vermeulen, Alberts and Louw can bite rivets in half but Messam, Cane and Read are faster around the field.

I cordially invite Springbok fans, as well as gloomy All Black fans, to rip these reasons to pieces.

He says the Boks are technically better in the lineouts. What??? That is a joke surely. The rest he is right about though, lol

 Well thats one point of view - here's the Bok perspective:

1) Records are meant to be broken (refer to last week)

2) What the Boks see when they watch the Haka

3)  No argument there - they all look really very pretty running with the ball, but they have to get their hands on it first and they haven't faced a defense like the Boks this year.

4) Lala Land  - the only place where the All Black scrum wasn't dominated by the Argies last week. Will happen again this week. Fardy and Hooper were prominant in the 2nd Wallaby / NZ Test but almost disappeared against the Boks - what does that tell you?

Haha - come on BOKKE !!!!

 For the record - no disrespect meant to the AB's, NZ fans or culture by the above post. My intention was only to have a little fun. There is no more worthy an opponent for the Boks.