Springboks focus on present, not past, ahead of Eden Park clash with All Blacks

History won’t matter on Saturday morning when the Springboks take to the field to face the All Blacks at Eden Park in the Rugby Championship.

The world champions won’t be too focused on their winless record at the iconic stadium in Auckland, New Zealand (9.05am kick-off), but rather on their job: to try and pick up a second consecutive victory in the tournament.

After two games, the official log is delicately balanced, with all four sides having won one game and lost another. The All Blacks are currently at the top thanks to a bonus point, but the stakes are set to rise when they host the defending title holders in back-to-back matches.

According to Mzwandile Stick, Bok assistant coach, the team isn’t paying too much attention to their historical record at the venue. The Springboks last won at Eden Park in 1937.

“Only three players in our current group have played here before, so history doesn't count for us,” Stick said.

“It’s all about what will happen on Saturday. The All Blacks take a lot of pride in their history and the legacy of this stadium. However, for us, it’s about playing for and protecting the Springbok jersey. We must ensure we give ourselves a good chance to perform. To win this competition, you must beat the best.

“We couldn’t ask for a better test than playing the All Blacks in New Zealand. The stadium’s history has little impact on us. We want to represent the country with pride and dignity, and make the people back home proud.”

The assistant coach added that they’re not worried about being overprepared for the crucial clash.

They’ve been in New Zealand for almost two weeks, fine-tuning their preparation to give themselves the best chance of pulling off an upset. According to Stick, they’ve ensured the players are optimally prepared and won't go into the game overcooked after more than a week in the country.

Upon landing in Auckland, the team had a couple of recovery days to adjust to the time zone before beginning their match-week preparations.

“When we arrived early, it was so we could acclimatise properly to the time difference. Ten hours is crazy, so we had to make sure we got here in time. Recovery was key. Last week, we spent two days training, but I wouldn’t say we overworked them. We have a very experienced strength and conditioning department that knows exactly what’s needed to get the players ready.

“The vibe around Auckland in the build-up has been awesome. Everyone is talking about the game. This is a historical venue for them.”

Stick also congratulated All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea on reaching 100 caps for New Zealand, acknowledging the milestone.

“He’s been a true legend of the game.”