All Blacks bruiser Luke Jacobson is champing at the bit to crash into the Springboks again in Saturday’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry blockbuster in Joburg.
Locked at 1-1, New Zealand will clash with the world champions in what has been billed as the series decider ahead of next week’s Baltimore leg.
Jacobson started in the All Blacks No 7 jersey at Ellis Park and Cape Town Stadium after building form through the July Nations Championship but for the flanker, Saturday is about correcting a few wrongs up against the world’s best.
PLUM: All Blacks could be 20 points up by half-time
“I love physical games and physical confrontations. The South Africans, they’re big physical bodies; there’s no hiding from that,” Jacobson told DSPN‘s Martin Devlin.
“So, it’s a real good test. One of the hardest Tests you will get, I think, as a rugby player is playing against South Africa – physically.
“It’s a good place to see where you’re at. I wasn’t overly happy with some of my collisions from the last game. So, looking to get a few of those right for this Test.”
SNAKEY: Boks’ midfield holds edge
Facing the same rival three weeks running has reshaped New Zealand’s build-up, and Jacobson explained: “It is unusual, and it actually makes the weeks a hard case because you don’t have to do too much preview because your reviews are pretty much previews …
“It’s just such small margins and trying to find the little bits of gold that are going to be the difference.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
