Assistant Deon Davids anticipates an epic showdown between the Springboks and the All Blacks in the World Cup final on Saturday, noting the rich history between the teams.
Despite previous encounters, he stresses that this weekend’s final is a “totally new game”. Both teams have displayed excellent form in the tournament, and Davids acknowledges the need for precise execution and preparation.
“It is a fantastic and exciting week that lies ahead of us. Our battles with the All Blacks, there is a lot of history between us,” the forwards coach told reporters in the buildup to the clash.
“We have played them a couple of times this year but going into a World Cup final I don’t think any of those previous encounters count. We will have to be on top of our plan and our execution this week.
“You can see that throughout the competition New Zealand have been playing excellent rugby. They are also in a really good space, so it is going to be a hard-fought battle on Saturday and we need to make sure we tick a lot of boxes in our preparation.”
Davids added: “As a kid we grew up listening to the radio on the battles between the All Blacks and South Africa, listening to the stories of the heroes from both teams over the years.
“It has been part of our rugby history, the Springboks and the All Blacks, and every time we play each other it is always a special battle and I don’t think this one will be different.”
Reflecting on the Springboks’ narrow victories over France and England, Davids applauds the team’s character and ability to adapt. He hopes for a more comfortable win in the final but expects a tough battle.
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Davids expresses excitement about both teams vying for a record fourth World Cup title, emphasising the historic rivalry between South Africa and New Zealand. He believes the match will be determined by handling pressure and executing crucial moments.
He commends head coach Jacques Nienaber for fostering a collective approach and empowering the coaching team. Davids acknowledges the leadership within the squad and values the dynamic environment.
“The leadership comes from Jacques and Rassie [Erasmus, director of rugby], in terms of how they empower us to do things and share their experience,” Davids added.
“That flows down to the leadership group of the players – their input and insights and what they think will work – because we have a lot of experience within the group.”
Regarding preparation, Davids stresses the need for a balanced approach, combining mental and physical readiness. He acknowledges the strengths and similarities in the teams’ styles of play, emphasising the importance of possession, playing in the right areas, and using opportunities.
He believes that the team executing best and adapting mentally to the conditions will emerge as the tournament winners.
“Both squads are similar in terms of experience, X-factor and where and how they want to play,” Davids said. “It is going to be a tight battle to outsmart each other and to ensure you get the upper hand.
“It is going to be about possession, playing in the right areas, using your opportunities. It is going to be a massive battle.”
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