Former All Blacks fly-half Stephen Donald, who famously helped clinch the 2011 World Cup, has made a bold prediction about the upcoming series against South Africa. He's confident that the All Blacks could dominate the Springboks in the initial Tests, reminiscent of their 1996 sweep under Sean Fitzpatrick.
"I was confident for the last couple of weeks. Rennie talked about the kicking game getting the balance right. I reckon last night the boys had to confront slow ball more than they had in the first couple of weeks, and with all the entertainment aspect of a game, they still had the ability and smarts to go right: ‘We are going to kick here, and we are just going to put up a box and start again’. So, I love the way we’re playing; confident look we might give the Boks the American one; just we might be sick of winning by then. We’ll go first three; my confidence is high."
While optimism rides high with Donald, Justin Marshall, another former All Black, provided a more tempered assessment. He praised coach Dave Rennie's preparations during the July Nations Championship, acknowledging the formidable challenge posed by the Boks on their home turf.
Marshall expressed his confidence in the team's current form, suggesting that their recent performance against Ireland demonstrated their ability to pressure even the strongest opponents into critical mistakes. He articulated the combination of respect and readiness Rennie has instilled in the squad.
“We’ve been going well, and a good side comes and puts pressure on you. They put you into places you’re not used to being in,” remarked the ex-scrum-half. He further emphasized the significance of the upcoming series: “That’s again what you put the boots on for. It’s the toughest challenge in the game to go there and win a series. We’ve only ever done it once in ’96.”
“They will be very well grounded in that respect, but I think confident we can go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the world. No problem whatsoever. This is great. It’s set up so well. One and two in the world. Four tests on the bounce. Here we go. Can’t wait.”
The stage is set for a thrilling rugby showdown, with the All Blacks looking to make history once again on foreign soil. Fans around the world will undoubtedly be eager to see if Rennie's men can live up to the lofty expectations set by their predecessors and perhaps, just perhaps, get a little 'sick of winning.' As the teams prepare, the anticipation builds for what promises to be a series to remember.
