Van Staden draws on veteran wisdom ahead of All Blacks showdown

The Springboks will rely heavily on the experience of captain Siya Kolisi and veteran lock Eben Etzebeth ahead of this weekend’s highly anticipated clash against New Zealand at Eden Park.

Kolisi and Etzebeth are the only players in the current squad who featured the last time the Boks played at the iconic Auckland venue, back in 2013. That match was marred by controversy after former Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis was sent off with a red card for a second yellow following a legal tackle on flyhalf Dan Carter.

The All Blacks went on to win that encounter 29–15, with South Africa playing most of the second half with 14 men.

Now, the reigning world champions have a chance to rewrite the script and chase a historic first win in the modern era at Eden Park (kick-off at 9.05am). They’ll also be looking to extend their winning streak over the All Blacks to five consecutive Tests.

Loose forward Marco van Staden is relishing the chance to run out at the legendary stadium for the first time. He says that insights from seasoned players like Etzebeth and Kolisi will be invaluable.

“It’s a massive stadium to play at, and any advice or experience they can share will be welcomed and used to our advantage,” Van Staden said.

“We can definitely benefit from their experience of playing there. We try to learn as much as we can from those who’ve been in these big moments before.

"Every Test match is huge for us, and we prepare differently for each team because no two sides play the same way. This is a big occasion, and we’re preparing with that in mind.”

With Kolisi still recovering from the knee injury he sustained against Australia, his availability remains uncertain. Van Staden is likely to retain the No 6 jersey, though he could also be an option at No 8. A potential loose trio of Van Staden, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Kwagga Smith could give the Springboks the balance they’re looking for at the back of the scrum.

For Van Staden, just being part of the Bok environment is a special privilege.

“Any week you're involved with the Springboks, whether you play or not, is an honour. There are many who would give anything to be in this position, so you appreciate it even more. Every week in a Bok camp is special,” Van Staden concluded.