“When South Africa play New Zealand, consider your country at war”

The phrase was coined by legendary Springbok forward Boy Lew, who played every position in his country’s pack during 18 international appearances in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

In 1949 he famously revealed to the Bog team before the Test match against New Zealand.

The trend’s current toughest man, Eben Etzabeth, subscribes to the same hypothesis.

Speaking to the media ahead of his final World Cup warm-up game against the All Blacks at Twickenham on Friday, Etzebeth said he would be a ‘full-blooded’ international player.

Despite the obvious risk of injury ahead of the World Cup, they will hold nothing back.

“[Estamos] “I’m playing for our country in a Springbok shirt, even though it’s on a neutral ground against South Africa’s biggest rivals, the All Blacks,” said the 112-cap second row.

“It’s a test for the Springboks against the All Blacks.”

“We’re going to give it our all to win the game.”

We will worry about the World Cup after this game.

“If things go well for us, it will also give us hope for the World Cup.”

Etzebeth said South Africa needed to be ‘on’ from the start.

The Springboks last played the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship in Auckland in July, leading 17-0 before New Zealand ran out 35-20 winners.

“We have to make sure we start fast. [el viernes]”, said the 31-year-old second row.

“One of the main lessons we learned was to be on fire from minute to minute against them.”

“In the first 20 minutes of the last game, the All Blacks were the better team, so it’s important that we get off to a strong start.”

Bok, capped 112 times, said they were proud of their line, scrum and maul formations and their defence, but needed to improve their kicking game after last month’s humiliating defeat.

The Boks begin their RWC title defense against Scotland in Marseille on Sunday 10 September.

@rugby365com