South Africa prop Jannie du Plessis is a student of the long and intense rivalry between the All Blacks and Springboks, so he is fully prepared for the hype ahead of the Rugby World Cup semi-finals.
No other team has a better percentage of games won against the All Blacks, nor commands as much respect from New Zealand players.
In both nations, rugby transcends sport, and there is a mutual respect for the national teams after 90 Tests dating back to 1921. The All Blacks have won 52 of those, and there have been three draws.
Photo: Reuters
“I can name most scores of matches between the Springboks and the All Blacks from years ago and I am very aware of the rich history,” the 32-year-old Springboks prop said on Monday, two days after South Africa rallied to beat Wales 23-19 with a late try in their quarter-final.
“I grew up with VHS tapes of the 1981 tour and of many tours,” he said.
The 1981 Springbok tour to New Zealand was controversial, with two matches canceled for security reasons and violent, bloody clashes between anti-apartheid protesters and police becoming more frequent as the series continued.
Photo: AFP
New Zealand won the three-Test series 2-1, but the tour was more widely remembered for off-field violence and was the last bilateral series involving the teams until after South Africa’s international sanctions were lifted.
The All Blacks won the first Test after South Africa’s return in 1992 and won two and drew one in 1994, all building up to the famous 1995 World Cup final.
The Springboks beat the highly favored All Blacks 15-12, with Joel Stransky kicking a drop-goal in extra time, to claim their first World Cup title — the first they had contested and the only time they have hosted the quadrennial tournament.
The 1995 squad were on a roll at that tournament, beating defending champions Australia in the tournament opener and France in the semi-finals, before closing with the win over New Zealand, culminating with then-South Africa president Nelson Mandela presenting the trophy to then-South Africa captain Francois Pienaar.
However, this year, the Springboks lost their opener to Japan in the biggest upset in Rugby World Cup history, but recovered to top their group and advance to the semi-finals.
While New Zealand are in fine form, coasting through the group stage before trouncing France by a record 62-13 in their quarter-final, France upset the All Blacks in both previous World Cups held in Britain, coming back to win their 1999 semi-final and the 2007 quarter-final, which was held in Cardiff.
“They didn’t just stick the knife in, they put it in and turned it, and the French felt the full wrath,” Du Plessis said of New Zealand’s win on Saturday.
South Africa have a 2-1 record against New Zealand at World Cups — following up the 1995 win with a 22-18 victory at Cardiff in 1999, before New Zealand won 29-9 in 2003 in Australia, so Du Plessis — part of the World Cup-winning squad in 2007 — is prepared for a hard, physically and mentally draining contest on Saturday.
“Playing for the Springboks with their incredible history and heritage is amazing, but history can be a millstone ’round your neck, because you play with added pressure,” he was quoted as saying. “You have to go out and play for each other and South Africa regardless of the burden ’round us.”
“If you play for yourselves, there is a wonderful thing of synergy,” he said. “The team is doing well, and everyone gives a little bit more.”
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