Auckland, New Zealand. World rugby’s two top-ranked teams, New Zealand and South Africa, meet on Saturday in the opening match of the Tri-Nations tournament on the same grounds where the World Cup final will be decided in 15 months.
Both teams have hinted at the lingering importance of winning the Tri-Nations title, held by South Africa, and disputing the No. 1 world ranking, which is currently New Zealand’s.
And while both teams have rejected the notion that the match would offer a preview of World Cup form, the intensity of each team’s preparation and the edge of the pre-match rhetoric suggests that some World Cup feelings — at least the desire to strike a psychological blow — have infected both camps.
New Zealand has said it wants to avenge its three losses to South Africa in last year’s Tri-Nations series and prove it deserves to be ranked No. 1 in the world ahead of the world champion Springboks.
“I personally think it [the World Cup] is irrelevant,” New Zealand co-coach Wayne Smith said. “Both teams are going to have a good crack at the World Cup, but not today or tomorrow, that’s down the track.
Center Conrad Smith, who along with midfield partner Ma’a Nonu returns to the New Zealand lineup after being sidelined with injury, offered insight into the tension in the All Blacks camp.
“There is a danger with a game like this that you get too excited and go overboard with all the adrenaline,” Smith said. “It’s something we’ve talked about, but it does feel like a different game and there is definitely an edge to training.”
Both teams named experienced lineups for the match, the All Blacks favoring fullback Mils Muliaina, Nonu, winger Joe Rokocoko and prop Tony Woodcock over younger rivals.
South Africa named lock Bakkies Botha in its starting lineup and placed Danie Rossouw on the bench after delaying the naming of its lineup from Tuesday to Thursday to monitor the fitness of the second rowers.
Captain John Smit said Saturday’s test possessed greater significance than his team’s June tests against France and Italy.
“This is a different kettle of fish,” he said. This is going to be a high-pressure environment.”
Associated Press
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