Springboks: Cheslin Kolbe issues candid verdict on All Blacks’ unbeaten Eden Park record

Springboks duo Cheslin Kolbe (wing) and Marco van Staden (back-row) are looking forward to facing the All Blacks at Eden Park for the first time this weekend.

Eden Park is regarded as the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby, and the Springboks face a daunting task against their arch rivals at the famous venue on Saturday.

There has been plenty of hype over the fixture as the All Blacks have not lost at Eden Park since 1994 and they are currently on a 50-match unbeaten run at the ground – a record which includes 48 victories and two draws.

Battle between the top two Test teams

Adding spice to the fixture is the fact that New Zealand are currently ranked as the top team in World Rugby’s official rankings, while South Africa occupy second position.

The All Blacks are also setting the pace at the top of the Rugby Championship table with six points, while the Wallabies are in second position, just one point adrift, with the Springboks and Los Pumas having each amassed four points.

Apart from the All Blacks’ excellent record at the venue, the Boks are also determined to break a hoodoo at the ground, having last won a match there in 1937.

Both Kolbe and Van Staden said the fact that the Springboks had not been victorious against the All Blacks at Eden Park in 88 years made the fixture one of the matches to cherish if they were to be named in the world champions’ matchday squad.

“Every opportunity I receive to play against the All Blacks, especially with all the history behind matches between the sides, is massive, and that is a sentiment we all share,” said Kolbe.

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“We are facing the No. 1-ranked team in the world currently, and as a player, you want to measure yourself against them individually and as a team to see where you are and if you are still on par, so I’m excited.

“I have also never played at Eden Park before, but I’ve heard many great things about it, so I’ll be thrilled if I get the opportunity to play this weekend.”

Van Staden echoed Kolbe’s sentiments and said: “Every Test one plays in the green and gold is big, and no two teams are the same, so we are preparing as well as possible for the match.

Preparing for ‘special’ occasion

“Having the opportunity to play in this match will certainly be special.

“It’s a significant stadium for the All Blacks, so anything we can learn from players who have faced New Zealand a few times away in the past, we’ll definitely take to heart.”

Although the world champions have not enjoyed much success at the iconic stadium, where they last faced the All Blacks in 2013 and suffered a 29-15 loss, Kolbe is not too worried about that form and is quietly confident ahead of Saturday’s eagerly anticipated clash.

“The past is history. There’s nothing we can do about that. All we can do is focus on what we can do now, and whoever gets the chance to play needs to go out there and enjoy the occasion.

“A lot can change in a season, and the main things for us is to continue improving and developing as a team.”

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