Springboks acclimatising ahead of massive All Blacks showdown

The Springboks are looking to acclimatise to conditions in New Zealand as quickly as possible after touching down in Auckland on Wednesday.

Following a defeat and a victory over Australia in recent weeks, the world champions will face the All Blacks in back-to-back Tests at Eden Park (September 6) and Wellington’s Sky Stadium (September 13 ) in crucial matches as they look to defend their Rugby Championship title.

Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus and his management team will conduct a flush-out session with the squad on Thursday, which will include gym work and recovery, before taking to the training field on Friday to adapt to the local conditions. this means they will have just over a week of preparation in New Zealand, which they hope will be enough.

Erasmus said the focus is on managing the players to ensure they’re battle-ready.

“We’ve structured our training schedule this week to allow the players to recover from two physical matches against Australia, while at the same time gradually build up for the next two fixtures,” said Erasmus.

“So, we’ll have only two training sessions this week and then go full throttle into normal Test-match mode from Monday. We travelled well, and although it’s a long trip to New Zealand, we’re excited to be here and looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“It’s always tough playing here, but the group is in good spirits, and we’re fully aware of the magnitude of the task in front of us.”

The Rugby Championship log is finely balanced, with all four teams having won one match and lost one. The All Blacks (six points) currently top the standings after picking up two bonus points, with Australia (five), South Africa (four), and Argentina (four) close behind.

Los Pumas sprung a surprise by beating the Kiwis this past weekend, blowing the title race wide open after the Boks defeated the high-flying Wallabies in Cape Town.

This trip will be crucial not only for the Springboks’ title defence but also in terms of their world ranking ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw later this year. It could also prove to be a championship-defining period, with a pivotal clash looming between the Aussies and Argies.

“With all four teams in the Rugby Championship having one win each and the standings so tight, there’s no doubt that the next two games will be crucial for our campaign. That’s why it’s good we travelled early in the week.

“The time zone and conditions are obviously very different from back home, so it’s important we acclimatise and settle in quickly to ensure we’re sharp in training and ready to be at our best when we face the All Blacks next weekend.”