All Blacks: Sean Fitzpatrick reveals why Greatest Rivalry series victory over Springboks could be springboard for Rugby World Cup triumph
Ex-New Zealand captain Sean Fitzpatrick (inset) and All Blacks centre Jordie Barrett in action against the Springboks.
Sean Fitzpatrick believes a triumphant All Blacks campaign during the upcoming Greatest Rivalry series against the Springboks could be used as a springboard for a successful 2027 Rugby World Cup campaign.
New Zealand will head out to South Africa in early August with the All Blacks taking on all four of the United Rugby Championship sides ahead of three clashes with the Springboks in Johannesburg (twice) and Cape Town, before Baltimore hosts the fourth and final Test on September 12.
And former All Blacks hooker and skipper Fitzpatrick, who captained the men in black to their only series victory over the Springboks in South Africa in 1996, said a Greatest Rivalry series victory for New Zealand should be targeted and then used as a launch pad to help the country lift the Webb Ellis Cup in Australia next year.
“I think it is very important for World Cup preparation,” he told IOL in Johannesburg. “My point of view is that this is a wonderful opportunity to win a series in South Africa.
‘The World Cup will take care of itself’
“If I was captain, I would be talking about that, and if we do that, the World Cup will take care of itself.
“You are going to need 30 to 40 players to be victorious over four consecutive Saturdays to win this series, and that is exactly what you need to do in a World Cup.”
Fitzpatrick, who represented New Zealand in 92 Tests and captained them in 51 of those, feels despite the importance of the Greatest Rivalry series, the All Blacks and Springboks are both viewing success at next year’s global showpiece as the ultimate prize.
“The World Cup is obviously in the back of [All Blacks coach] Dave Rennie’s mind, as is the case with Rassie [Erasmus],” he added.
The 63-year-old highlighted the enormity of the challenge which awaits the All Blacks when they take on the current world champions in their backyard.
“South Africa are quite clearly the best team in the world at the moment, no question,” he said.
Highlights the depth in Springboks ranks
“I say that not only because of their performances on the field, but because of the depth that Rassie has created.
“Let us see how the Boks handle the pressure of being number one.”
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Despite the All Blacks being underdogs, Fitzpatrick is quietly confident of their chances in the Greatest Rivalry Series and expects them to improve on their recent performances in the Nations Championship.
“For me, as an All Black fan, I’m very excited about what is coming up. We are not the finished product by any means,” he explained.
“The way we played against France and Italy will not be good enough to beat South Africa.
“Rassie has been at the very top — he has won back-to-back World Cups — so he understands the pressure. He has created an environment in the team that is hugely competitive.
“You are not going to get fat and lazy in Rassie’s team, I can tell you that. If you are not performing, there is always someone else.”