Hold onto your jerseys, rugby fans! The unbreakable Eden Park, a fortress where the All Blacks haven't tasted defeat since the grunge era of 1994, might just witness its walls crumble when the Springboks visit next month. Carlos Spencer, once an All Blacks maestro himself, is betting on the Boks to not only snatch the Rugby Championship but also put an end to New Zealand’s three-decade reign at their sacred ground.
Spencer, who wore the black jersey in 44 Tests, is all in on the Boks, currently the top dogs in global rugby. "I’ve got the Springboks as favourites. They’re number one in the world for a reason. They’re the team to beat," he declared in his chat with SportsBoom. The Boks have indeed been on a roll, securing victories in six out of their last eight dust-ups with the All Blacks, including a quartet of consecutive wins.
The contrast between the teams is stark. The All Blacks recently struggled against a not-so-stellar French squad, and with a couple of tough games in Argentina on the horizon plus a growing list of injuries, new coach Scott Robertson might be feeling the heat. Spencer didn’t shy away from highlighting the Kiwis' recent form woes.
"It wasn’t the strongest French side, and we struggled at times in the series,"
he admitted, yet he anticipated that the age-old rivalry will ensure Eden Park is electrified come game day.Meanwhile, Spencer also waved a caution flag about the Wallabies, fresh from a dogged series against the British & Irish Lions. With Joe Schmidt steering the ship and players like Will Skelton in peak form, the Aussies are looking sharp.
"Their prep coming into the Rugby Championship has been solid. They’ll be dangerous,"
Spencer noted, suggesting that the upcoming matches in the Southern Hemisphere could be rife with surprises.The Springboks kick off their title defense on home soil against Australia on August 16 in Johannesburg, before a rematch in Cape Town a week later. As the tournament heats up, the rugby world will be watching closely, with many wondering if the Boks can indeed breach the All Blacks' stronghold or if the Wallabies might throw a spanner in the works. One thing's for sure: the Rugby Championship is shaping up to be a thriller!