Tony Brown: All Blacks v Springboks is the biggest game since the Rugby World Cup final

Springboks assistant coach Tony Brown believes that the clash against the All Blacks at Eden Park is the biggest game since the Rugby World Cup final.

South Africa edged New Zealand 12-11 in the 2023 showpiece event to clinch their fourth Rugby World Cup title and have since beaten the All Blacks on two further occasions, both times on home soil.

Eden Park challenge

Brown predicts another epic showdown when the two nations face off in round three of the Rugby Championship as the All Blacks put their 50-match unbeaten record at Eden Park on the line against the Springboks, doing so for the first time since 2013.

The squad touched down in Auckland earlier this week to begin preparations for arguably the most highly-anticipated fixture on the international calendar this year, and Brown, a former All Blacks fly-half, says they have begun to settle in.

“The team has travelled well. Obviously, the first couple of days are all about recovery and just starting to get our plans together to get ready to take on the All Blacks. So, it’s been a good first couple of days,” he said.

On the vibe in the camp, he added: “Just excitement, really. The Eden Park record is on the line.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for us to go there and take on the challenge; it’s always going to be a tough All Blacks team.”

Brown admits that while every Test match matters, the clash at Eden Park is a particularly special occasion.

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He adds that both teams will be ‘desperate’ for a result as South Africa look to become the first team since 1994 to beat the All Blacks at their fortress while Scott Robertson’s side aim to defend that record with the eye on the Rugby Championship table as well.

“Every Test is important. The Rugby Championship always comes down to one or two games,” the renowned attack coach said.

“So hopefully we can win the key ones, make a push in New Zealand and then hopefully go to back to South Africa with some points on the board.

“It’s probably the biggest game since the Rugby World Cup final, so the players are excited. The All Blacks are going to be desperate to win, Springboks are going to be desperate to win – so it should make for an amazing game.”

Asked what the Boks had to do in order to break the Eden Park hoodoo, the ex-playmaker says that preparation will be crucial.

“Just make sure we prepare well, get excited about the challenge, and making sure we put our best foot forward when we get onto the field and and play as hard as we can to to win the game,” he concluded.

READ MORE: In numbers: The All Blacks’ INSANE 50 game unbeaten run at Eden Park since 1994