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Johannesburg –The FNB Stadium needs to give the Springboks the same ‘woema’ it gave off during the Soccer World Cup.
Saturday is the 81st Test between the Springboks and All Blacks, but the first in Soweto.
It will be the first rugby Test in the massive stadium where the opening game and the final of the 2010 World Cup were played.
Springbok wing JP Pietersen cannot wait to run out in the huge sporting mecca.
“It’s noticeable how much the stadium contributed to the success of the 2010 World Cup. We hope that it will do the same for us against the All Blacks,” Pietersen said on Wednesday.
The Boks trained at Hyde Park High School this week as the playing surface is similar to that of the FNB Stadium.
Bok vice-captain Victor Matfield, who captained the Bulls’ at Soweto’s Orlando Stadium for the Super14 semi finals and final had this to say:
“We got a feeling in the Super 14 what it’s like to play in Soweto. I’m glad someone like John Smit’s 100th Test will be in a stadium like this. It will be an historic day for all concerned,” said Matfield.
All Black captain Richie McCaw, who played for the Crusaders at the Orlando Stadium:
“I don’t think we realised the significance of a rugby match in Soweto then. We only grasped it a little later. It’s going to be huge,” he said on Tuesday.
All Black coach Graham Henry knows the impact of a full stadium that will seat 89 000 spectators on Saturday.
“This is a vital match for us in this year’s tournament. The altitude means that extraordinary demands will be placed on us,” he said.
“A massive crowd. A wonderful stadium. Against the world champions. It does not get bigger than this,” said Henry.
New Zealand played in front of about 81 000 people at the San Siro soccer stadium against Italy in Milan last November. The Italian crowd made a lot of noise and the All Blacks struggled to a 20-6 win.
Johannesburg –The FNB Stadium needs to give the Springboks the same ‘woema’ it gave off during the Soccer World Cup.
Saturday is the 81st Test between the Springboks and All Blacks, but the first in Soweto.
It will be the first rugby Test in the massive stadium where the opening game and the final of the 2010 World Cup were played.
Springbok wing JP Pietersen cannot wait to run out in the huge sporting mecca.
“It’s noticeable how much the stadium contributed to the success of the 2010 World Cup. We hope that it will do the same for us against the All Blacks,” Pietersen said on Wednesday.
The Boks trained at Hyde Park High School this week as the playing surface is similar to that of the FNB Stadium.
Bok vice-captain Victor Matfield, who captained the Bulls’ at Soweto’s Orlando Stadium for the Super14 semi finals and final had this to say:
“We got a feeling in the Super 14 what it’s like to play in Soweto. I’m glad someone like John Smit’s 100th Test will be in a stadium like this. It will be an historic day for all concerned,” said Matfield.
All Black captain Richie McCaw, who played for the Crusaders at the Orlando Stadium:
“I don’t think we realised the significance of a rugby match in Soweto then. We only grasped it a little later. It’s going to be huge,” he said on Tuesday.
All Black coach Graham Henry knows the impact of a full stadium that will seat 89 000 spectators on Saturday.
“This is a vital match for us in this year’s tournament. The altitude means that extraordinary demands will be placed on us,” he said.
“A massive crowd. A wonderful stadium. Against the world champions. It does not get bigger than this,” said Henry.
New Zealand played in front of about 81 000 people at the San Siro soccer stadium against Italy in Milan last November. The Italian crowd made a lot of noise and the All Blacks struggled to a 20-6 win.
