South Africa is gearing up to face New Zealand on Saturday in a rematch of last year’s Rugby World Cup final.
“Tomorrow is a big game for us. I know a lot of people will say they have a lot of motivation. We also have a lot of motivation”, said South Africa captain Siyamthanda Kolisi.
“They’ve beaten us many times. Some of us in this group still remember the 57-0 defeat, which we’ll never forget. So, tomorrow is an important game for us, and we’ve got a lot to play for”, he added.
This match is the first of two consecutive encounters between the Springboks and the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship, with the second scheduled for September 7th.
Last October, South Africa claimed their record fourth Rugby World Cup title by narrowly defeating New Zealand 12-11, solidifying their position as the top-ranked rugby team in the world.
New Zealand enters the Rugby Championship ranked third globally.