Loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff says the Springbok pack is fired up to completely dominate the All Blacks when the heavyweights trade blows at Ellis Park on Saturday.
South Africa convincingly beat New Zealand in Nelspruit last week, thanks in no small part to the Boks’ physicality in the set-piece battles and Kitshoff, a key member of the Bomb Squad, wants an even more commanding performance from the world champions in Johannesburg.
“When it comes to scrum time and the battle we face against the All Blacks, they’ve always been a good international outfit when it comes to lineouts and scrummaging,” he told reporters in the buildup to the Rugby Championship clash on Saturday.
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“I remember back in the day when they had stalwarts like Owen Franks and those guys who set the standard for international scrummaging, and who I looked up to as a young player.
“They will come out and be a tough opponent, [but] last week we didn’t get the dominance we wanted in the second half, and we have been working hard this week and hopefully we can get it right this weekend.”
With hooker Joseph Dweba in his first start against the All Blacks after Bongi Mbonambi was withdrawn on Wednesday due to injury, Kitshoff said he was “extremely happy” for Dweba, who will join Kitshoff at the Stormers next season.
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“He’s been involved in the set-up for a while, and he’s been working hard at training. That said, it is sad for Bongi, but hopefully he’ll be back on the field soon,” said Kitshoff.
The 2019 World Cup winner is also fired up for another spectacle of Test rugby at one of the most iconic rugby stadiums in SA: “It is nice to play at Ellis Park, especially if one trains in Johannesburg all week.
“We are aware of what a treasure of a ground it is in South Africa, and after what we experienced last week at the Mbombela Stadium, I think it is going to be very similar, if not louder. It is going to be a great occasion.”
Photo: Rodger Bosch/AFP/Getty Images
