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NZ will destroy Boks - Spencer

Johannesburg - Despite the fact that the Springboks dominated the All Blacks in Dunedin, former All Black flyhalf and discarded Lions backline coach Carlos Spencer has predicted the world champions will “destroy” the Boks this weekend in their Rugby Championship clash at FNB Stadium.

According to the supersport.com website, Spencer, who was fired as Lions backline coach, told Fairfax Media that the world champions will put matters back in perspective this weekend with a match that will bring Bok fans crashing down to earth.

The former All Black believes Australia were so bad in their five-try defeat at the hands of the Boks at Loftus that the All Blacks would show the Boks just how out of touch with reality they are.

"The Springboks obviously needed a good win but the Aussie weren't great. I think the All Blacks will destroy them this week," Spencer said.

"It will be a big confidence booster for the Springboks. There was a lot of pressure on them over here in terms of their last couple of efforts. They played some good rugby at times and didn't kick away as much ball as they had previously. That's definitely a step in the right direction for them.

"But they are going to come up against a better defence this week. If they can hold the ball for long periods and not kick it away they'll be in with a chance, but the All Blacks will be too good for them."

Spencer believes the fact the All Blacks have claimed the Rugby Championship already will allow them to play with a freedom seldom seen and will lift the tension of the occasion and motivate them more.

New Zealand have won 15 consecutive games thus far, within sight of the 17 which is the world-record for tier one nations.

"They've already got the trophy in the bag so they can go out there and express themselves with no pressure to win it," he said.

"I've been in that situation before with the Blues when you've already secured a semi-final spot. You never go out there to give 90 percent.

"You always want to win the last game.

"It will make the trip home a lot better. They won't be relaxing just because they've won the tournament. It would be a disappointing way to end the competition if they were to lose this week. They'll be fired up, hungry and aiming to destroy them."

Spencer also told the website he would stay on in Johannesburg, taking up a sports promotional job and keeping his two young children in the country, but after being fired “via email” by the Lions, did not want to get back into coaching.

"They cut Mitch (John Mitchell) and I was next. It's just one of those things. People get fired every day. It's time to move on and try something different," Spencer added.

"It would have been nice for the CEO or president to tell me face-to-face. It was a cowardly way to do it."

"I just saw it as an opportunity to finally get out of rugby," Spencer said.

"Coaching for me was never a long-term thing. It was something to do once I hung up the boots. It's just probably happened a little bit sooner than I thought."

Despite losing his job at the Lions, Spencer hopes they will become a force again.

"Speaking to the people in Joberg they can't believe it. The richest city in South Africa isn't going to have a team in Super Rugby," he said.

"There's a lot of disappointment around. It might make them wake up and change a few things so they can get back where they deserve to be."

HAVE YOUR SAY: Is Carlos Spencer correct, will the All Blacks destroy the Springboks on Saturday in Soweto? How do you see the Test panning out? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
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