Lima Sopoaga highlights where the All Blacks must dominate to topple Springboks
South Africa's Eben Etzebeth in action against New Zealand and Samoa and ex-All Blacks fly-half Lima Sopoaga.
Former New Zealand fly-half Lima Sopoaga identified the “physical battle” as the key area which the All Blacks must win if they want to beat the Springboks in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The Springboks have earned a reputation for their excellent physicality – especially amongst their forwards – which usually lays the foundation for their victories in the international arena.
In recent years, the Boks have thrived in that aspect of the game under the guidance of Rassie Erasmus as they have won back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2019 and 2023 as well as a 2-1 series victory over the British and Irish Lions in 2021.
Memorable Test debut at Ellis Park
Sopoaga, who represented Samoa at last year’s Rugby World Cup in France, made his Test debut for the All Blacks at Ellis Park in 2015 and made a 12-point contribution as the men in black sealed a 27-20 triumph over the Boks.
He feels if his countrymen can edge the Boks in the physicality stakes, it will pave the way to victory on Saturday.
“We just know that we just have to go to another level physically,” Sopoaga told the Behind The Ruck podcast. “We know that, you know, Ellis Park’s at altitude as well.
“So we’ve got to get the oxygen in the lungs and be ready because we might be in the game for 60 (minutes) and we could be ahead. But we know that South Africa’s got something special in that last 20.
“So we know we need to go like a full 80, 85 minutes to try and get a win.
“But I think the biggest thing heading into a Test in South Africa is the physical battle and what that will bring. There’s nothing, I don’t think there’s anything like playing the Springboks in South Africa physically.”
With Ellis Park being one of the genuine cathedrals of international rugby, Sopoaga said making his All Blacks debut at the famous venue was a special experience.
“When I think back to that match, even now I get goosebumps thinking about the history of Ellis Park,” he said. “The rivalry and just the atmosphere and the pressure.
“But also like the joy and the love from the South African people, not just towards their own team, but towards us as well. And like the mutual respect that I think both nations have towards each other as rugby nations is pretty special.”
Taking on the Springboks in their backyard is a daunting task and Sopoaga remembers Ellis Park as a hostile environment.
‘Seeing a sea of green’
“Definitely going to the stadium on the bus and like just seeing a sea of green and, you know, like people throwing stuff at the bus on the way,” he said.
“I’m sitting there looking out the window and there’s like apples thrown at the bus. I’m like, ‘Whoa!’ And, you know, like you got little kids and they’re like going like this to you (cutthroat gesture). But it’s all good.
“It’s all in good banter, you know. It’s all lighthearted. But it’s a very special place to play and the All Blacks love going there.
“We know how hard it is, but it’s a magnificent place to play rugby and to experience.”
