THE Springboks desperately want to win the Freedom Cup and it’s all they are focusing on this afternoon against the All Blacks in Cape Town.
While the world champions would take a significant step to claim the Rugby Championship title for the first time since 2019 with a win in the DHL Stadium (5pm kick-off), captain Siya Kolisi yesterday afternoon painted the picture of the Freedom Cup as the trophy they are chasing first at his captain’s press conference.
How much this would mean to Kolisi and the side is underpinned by the fact that the captain is playing through a facial injury to lead the side into battle, and the Boks are selecting veterans ahead of their exciting youngsters in key positions and have moved away from a 6-2 replacement bench split to counter the Kiwis with five forwards and three backs as impact players.
It’s the first time since 2017 that the Boks and All Blacks lock horns in Cape Town, with the visitors winning 25-24 at Newlands the last time. That was in front of about 52 000 supporters; today, a crowd of about 55 000 should pitch for the sold-out clash.
Kolisi, who’s played most of his rugby in Cape Town, said they are ready for the challenge.
“We have never been in this position as a group, so this is huge for the team,” Kolisi said yesterday.
“We have never been able to touch it and that’s big.”
“The Freedom Cup is something we only see in pictures or when we walk past it. We have never been able to touch it and that’s big. Coming back to Cape Town and playing here after so many years. There is so much to play for. We can put ourselves in this very good position for the Rugby Championship and all the other stuff.
“If I wasn’t okay, I would not have played,” he added about his fractured nose and playing with the injury. “But I wanted the opportunity, and the doctor gave me the opportunity. The whole week has been about the team and what we have done to get here.”
Siya Kolisi is ready for the All Blacks as the #Springboks set their sights on winning some silverware in Cape Town tomorrow - more here: https://t.co/4eZ8k4VUqR 🏆#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/4ZJzlGKDHo
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 6, 2024
Kolisi said they want to put their best foot forward today to start well because they didn’t do that last weekend and had to fight back to clinch the first Test. They are also cognisant of the All Black backlash after the loss and their ability to hit back when they are on the ropes.
New Zealand is the only side that can still challenge the Boks for Rugby Championship honours.
“There is so much on the line for both teams. We’ve spoken about going back-to-back in big games and we couldn’t do that against Ireland (earlier this year), and now we have another opportunity,” said Kolisi.
“And there is the chance to become the first team to win four in a row (in the professional era) against the All Blacks. But all that matters is, we have to win. We just want to win the Freedom Cup.”
The Boks could still afford to lose in the context of the Rugby Championship with two more Tests against Argentina later this month to claim the crown. But in the context of winning the Freedom Cup and maintaining a stranglehold on the Kiwis in international rugby, a victory is non-negotiable.
It will assert the Boks’ dominance and keep their number-one-ranked status in international rugby. A loss will see them fall down the rankings to second behind Ireland. Should the All Blacks win by 15 points or more, the world champions will drop to third, with the Kiwis climbing above them alongside the Irish.
Springboks starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche; Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Kwagga Smith, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Lukhanyo Am.
All Blacks starting XV: 15 Will Jordan 14 Sevu Reece 13 Rieko Ioane 12 Jordie Barrett 11 Mark Tele’a 10 Damian McKenzie 9 Cortez Ratima 8 Ardie Savea 7 Sam Cane 6 Wallace Sititi 5 Tupou Vaa’i 4 Scott Barrett (captain) 3 Tyrel Lomax 2 Codie Taylor 1 Tamaiti Williams; Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi 18 Fletcher Newell 19 Sam Derry 20 Luke Jacobsen 21 TJ Perenara 22 Anton Lienert-Brown 23 Beauden Barrett.