Chasing Nothing

This content is so good it makes me want to cry. How to do social and content... ...sports, royalty or anything. Obviously it is the Black Ferns. They're really good. Maybe it is because they don't give a s&$t, but I reckon it is because they are a hyper caring group of Women who bond around each other and this spreads to others. Even Kings. If you don't know who these outstanding Women are, they are the national rugby team of New Zealand. Winners of six of the last seven Women's Rugby World Cups. So authentic, it hurts. While the Ferns have a blockbuster clash with England this weekend, the manner in how they, and other Women's players engage, are putting the sport in a very good space. During the Olympics we saw the potential for this content. Ilona Maher showcased the brilliant off-the-cuff dryness that has made her a social media star. The American Sevens player has a social media following larger than any national rugby union, team or individual (male or female). The Ferns, led by Ruby Tui a couple of years ago, have a Kiwi bluntness without any hint of rudeness or sarcasm that is just lovely to see. Not just for social metrics. But they're sending some beautiful messaging. Even the King can't help but get involved. Women's rugby (and sport) and it's content engines, led by the likes of Rachael Whareaitu, Tara Handa, Libby Boggs, Stella Mills, Jo, Alice Soper, Ali Donnelly and more, are showing how it can be done. Real. Hugs. Behind the scenes prep for a Royal bow. The future, led by these Women, is in a very healthy space. Craig Fenton W C 👽 David Robertson Leanne Bats ᵍᵐ Belinda Moore Charlie Hayter

England Rugby Women versus the Black Ferns. The overwhelmingly No.1 ranked team in the world against the perennial and current World Champions. Allianz's new sponsorship of Twickenham also becomes official with the highly anticipated Test match seeing the absolute power of England versus the emotive mana of the Black Ferns. It is New Zealand's fourth visit to the home of rugby. They are seeking their first win. England meanwhile are on an absolute beast of a tear. Earlier this year they won their third straight Grand Slam, and sixth Six Nations on the trot, and boast a 29-match winning streak in the tournament. In their last four matches against the Black Ferns England have won three with a barely believable aggregate of 163 - 73. They have won 46 of their last 47 Test matches. But they've won only two World Cups, in 1994 and 2014. The Ferns have claimed six of the nine Cups on offer, including six of the last seven. The Ferns, the elite team of NZ Rugby's Women's high performance unit, were part of reviews in 2016 (Respect and Responsibility) and 2021/22 (unofficially the Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate review). Despite this, and continued at times frustrating progress commercially, the Ferns have become an iconic New Zealand sports team. But their incredible World Cup record has been blemished by heavy losses over the last three years to England and France - while the wahine lost to Canada for the first time Despite this, in 2022 the very best of New Zealand Rugby's vaunted system clicked into action. Wayne Smith became coach, Graham Henry his advisor, while Daniel Carter, Conrad Smith and Keven Mealamu MNZM were presences at the Ferns sessions. The nation got behind them. And they got behind themselves. Despite a glorious peaking, England have remained the gold standard - far too strong for New Zealand 33-12 last year in Auckland to follow on with their 43 and 56 point wins at the end of 2021. To hold the status this English team has, victory in front of what is likely to be a world record crowd must be achieved. England host the 2025 Rugby World Cup and one suspects the gold medal is the minimum standard. The rivalry over 31 Tests is in NZ's advantage, winning 19 of 31 clashes. But they have won only three times in 12 visits to England - with their last coming in 2016 at the Twickenham Stoop. As for the historic partnership, expect to see changes in how England Rugby's citadel operates in future years, drawing on the expertise of the world's largest insurance company. Access, academies, funding towards redevelopment and above all, 100 million quid over 10 years. The two teams will depart after for Canada for the WXV1 tournament, which England won last year. Stuart Ramsey Crystal Kaua W C 👽Andy Marston Leanne Bats ᵍᵐ Catherine Reynolds David Robertson David Algie

Why the Springboks bomb squad is peak psychology, why it might be rugby's greatest ever weapon and how to use it's philosophy in your own business. In rugby union, eight of the 23 players are usually called replacements or reserves. Would you like to be called that? In South Africa, the current, back-to-back and four-time World Champions, calls their eight the bomb squad. A real nickname. Not a reserve but a revelation. It shifts the usual five (5) forwards and three (3) backs on a bench to a 6-2 or even 7-1 split. Yep, six to seven international class, usually World Cup winners, all forwards, averaging between 115 to 130 kg. Rugby has never seen such a powerful, yet obvious, weapon. This allows success, which in turn allows Rassie Erasmus to play mind games. It's so potent one of New Zealand's most prominent broadcasters launched a gross attack on the Boks coach, comparing him to unflattering characters from Dune and Star Wars. The Boks have got under the Kiwis skin. Their 18-12 win over the All Blacks was their fourth in a row, equaling a 75-year record in terms of losing sequences for New Zealand. The Boks have won seven of eight Tests this year, will likely win The Rugby Championship and have seen off the challenges of the second and third best rugby teams in the world. Part of this is the psychology Erasmus deploys by giving the men not starting an opportunity to be as valuable, perhaps more so, than the run out fifteen. South Africa achieves this by being not just based on their country's image (they absolutely froth for the team) but knowing there are ways to achieve a collective and cohesion that is so far unstoppable. Rugby is being broken down in stages by Erasmus. The All Blacks, especially under McCaw and Hansen, used to do the same. Similar formula. Forwards were just too hard, great kick return and receipt, impetus but intellect in the backs. Led by an icon. Coached by a mind game player and severe motivator. Like the Boks 2024. We know the journey McCaw took everyone on - that of greatness - but his lofty standards and have not been met in recent times. The collective of a team: - Boks now: Relationship as a 23 man squad - All Blacks McCaw: The maintenance, and lifting, of a legacy The ownership of identity: - Boks now: What they mean for the people of South Africa - All Blacks McCaw: Leave your jersey in a better place It sounds so simple it's almost pompous, but this elevates the epic. Then the team gets behind it. As the vid below shows, they actually love it. That can't be beaten. Scary to see the Boks laugh about the squad. The culture. It shows the premium placed on forward power in rugby. These results place the highly valuable, on the field, Boks, in line for a PE deal likely with Ackerley Sports Group. South African rugby, despite being so strong in terms of result, is some way from matching this up to what they should be achieving commercially. https://shorturl.at/7jqwB

It is in no way remarkable to those who have followed and supported James Slipper's career, that the soon to be sixth most capped Test player ever, began during, upon reflection, a historic time for his teams. He is an Australian rugby great. A year after beginning with Queensland Rugby Union (Queensland Reds), he won a Super Rugby title. That season the Wallabies also won The Rugby Championship. It wasn't a stretch to say that Slipper, at both state and Test level, benefited from the presence of Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Digby Ioane and others in what were considered very good Reds and Wallabies teams. He debuted for his country in 2010, took over captaincy from James Horwill at state level in 2015, before reaching this week's illustrious milestone. An appearance off the bench versus Los Pumas will see Slipper draw level with George Gregan with 139 Test caps for the Wallabies. Only Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Whitelock, Richie McCaw, Sergio Parisse and Brian O'Driscoll are higher in the illustrious club. Slipper debuted for a Wallabies win over England, but the home team's scrum was absolutely destroyed by the tourists, conceding two penalty tries. He said it was the best game ever. The next year, Slipper was a Super Rugby champion. In 2018 Slipper was suspended by Rugby Australia. He made his comeback a few months later as the international game saw stints from Dave Rennie to Eddie Jones. Jones thought he was soft. "𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐟 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧," 𝐒𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝. "𝐈 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦. "𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐛𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭. 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐛𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈'𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰.” He now leads Australia and is the most durable front row forward the Wallabies have ever produced. He'd be very familiar with resilience. Slipper came up through Bond Pirates and The Southport School, before being signed by Queensland in 2010. In 2019 he agreed to terms with the ACT Brumbies. The Wallabies, who are in the midst of their best start to a Test season since 2014, have only lost more than twice on the bounce to Argentina once (in 2022/23). Australia has won six times in Argentina since 2013, and 10 of 15 Tests in South America overall. He will likely lead the Wallabies in the 2024 Bledisloe Cup later this month. The All Blacks have held the Bledisloe since 2003. Gordon Bray AM Phil Waugh Daniel Herbert W C 👽 David Robertson David Algie

This USC Trojans Football piece is out of this 🌎 Grab the popcorn, sit back, and feel the spine tingle. 👏 Radmen Niven Major Media Agency

Black armbands. The All Blacks were honoring a fallen King. Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII passed on August 30. He was Maori King since 2006, patron of Te Matatini, who in January this year led a national hue in opposition to the current government's stance towards treaty protocols. For Maoridom, a culture beset by warring tribes and conflict, the crown was a symbol of all-important unity. He was the eldest son of Te Atairangikaahu (his mother the Queen, ruled for 40 years), part of a Kīngitanga that has been in place in 1858. Is it part of the All Blacks culture that can be more openly used? Certainly, the All Blacks traditional pre match protocols, regardless of subsequent apologies, were under attack in a big way at Ellis Park. An airbus A380 will do that. It certainly got the nerves rattling. Or was is it imposter syndrome? When the All Blacks remember who or what they need to be, they can be unstoppable. We saw during the first half against Argentina at Eden Park - backs to the wall, on edge charged with protecting one of sport's great legacies. But we've seen recently that it can be hard to summon the attitude, anger and culture needed to fill the black jersey. 🖤 The opposite of imposter syndrome in rugby? The Springboks. The All Blacks look a team close. Close to turning a corner. But still a team that isn't showing their armbands enough. The four Ps of Imposter Syndrome are: 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦, 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬, 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞-𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. They are not insulting terms. But more reflecting on an individual or team not acting according to their values and their culture. Overcoming this needs everyone, team and fans alike, on the same page. To overcome these, a c framework is common: 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲, 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞. The onslaught of South African culture, theatrics and really, a deserved bit of strutting as befitting a team that really looks the goods, will continue in Cape Town. The Springboks culture is pulsating, the All Blacks still have a look of a side that isn't quite sure how to really look like All Blacks. For over 60 minutes at Ellis Park they sure remembered. But all of us forget. Your acts, and talking about them, embody the brand. The Springboks brand is absolute apex. They are the opposite of imposter syndrome. They have looked that way for a while. They're the double World Champs, No.1 and one victory away from The Rugby Championship title. No wonder New Zealand Rugby and South Africa want to turn the rivalry into a 8/9 home and away match series from 2026. It will be worth it's weight in gold. Winner next weekend takes all. Craig Fenton W C 👽 Dave Lipp David Algie Simon McMaster David Robertson

Does every Kiwi want to be an All Black anymore? I'm not sure. More to the point, does every young South African want to be a Springbok? Absolutely yes. The video below is commonplace, schools and students showing an elite level of support for their dearest Bokke. There is so much love for this Boks team and this was once again evident at Ellis Park as the World Champions defeated the All Blacks 31-27. The measure of the No.1 ranked team in the world was tested, with the tourists dominating for long periods of the game. - Siya Kolisi said: "We didn't panic". While he told his team: "Don't give up". Kolisi also paid tribute to 30 years of freedom and said there was still work to do, and still Women who needed help in regards to gender violence. Few international captains speak like this. It is really transcending stuff. It's very hard to beat a team led by such an inspirational man. - The introduction of the fabled bomb squad eventually told for the South Africans, as did the efforts of the new blood in the team. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, just 22-years-old, looks a player for the future, as the next generation of players from the Republic make their move. Victor Matfield was asked this week if South African rugby was struggling with the transition of having their top domestic teams playing in Europe. He felt, previously, that it would hurt the Republic's game. However, a burgeoning schoolboy scene, and the forced hand of Currie Cup teams to select youth, was paying dividends. Add to this that the Boks, since 2019, have held the Webb Ellis Cup It is a glorious trophy, once held by Nelson Mandela himself, that is inspiring generations of South Africans. The support of the Boks is heaving, like a lifeblood, across South Africa. The great All Blacks teams of yesteryear were able to win from any position on the scoreboard. Often the McCaw vintage would subject you to a slow doom, dominant in the closing quarter. This team has now failed to score a point in the last 20 minutes of a Test three times in 2024. At Ellis Park, the Boks, proclaimed by the most capped Springbok Matfield to be the best ever green and gold team, showed similar character that is motivating South Africa. With three wins from three in The Rugby Championship this year, this victory sees them place one hand on their trophy. While their fifth win over the All Blacks in seven Tests sees them equal the record set between 1970 and 1981 for streaks against New Zealand. The triumph was a fitting celebration for the 30th year celebration of South Africa's democracy. This was marked by a historic partnership between SuperSport, SABC and the Ministry of Sport, Arts & Culture to broadcast the Test to all South Africans. Bob Skinstad W C 👽 Matt Hymers Denis Venter Tyron Brant Sid Sutton Richard Weir Phil Camm Simon McMaster

The most resilient All Black of all time, and probably the single most dangerous player the Springboks could face, has been named to play in New Zealand Rugby's 643rd Test match this weekend. Sam Cane has been named for his first Test start of 2024, and his first run on appearance since playing in last year's Rugby World Cup Final which was won by South Africa 12-11. The match saw Cane red carded in the 29th minute. "It’s something unfortunately I’m going to have to live with forever," the Rotorua born forward said. 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚: 𝙎𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡, 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨. Cane had the toughest job in world rugby history. He had to replace the most illustrious player of all-time, Richie McCaw, and lead the team after their period of greatest ever success and subsequent rebuilding. At times, people were not kind. The danger presented to the Springboks this weekend can be encapsulated by Cane's response to Ireland. Beaten in a home series in 2022, Irishman Peter O'Mahony offered up a brutal sledge. "You're a shit Richie McCaw". When next facing the Irish, then ranked No.1 in the world at the RWC, Cane put in a masterclass, executing 21 tackles and stealing two turnovers. 𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙜𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙. And here we are. Cane will have a chance at redemption against the World Champions at their spiritual home. Cane's excellence should not be doubted. He was New Zealand's age grade player of the year in 2011, when the Under-20s won the World Championship, debuted for the Chiefs in 2011 (winning the title in 2012 and 2013) and has played 96 Tests for his country. He is now on track to become the 13th All Blacks centurion. He would join an illustrious list featuring Sam Whitelock (153), Richie McCaw (148), Keven Mealamu MNZM (132), Beauden Barrett (128), Kieran Read (127), Aaron Smith (125), Tony Woodcock (118), Daniel Carter (112), Brodie Retallick (109), Owen Franks (108), Maa Nonu (103) and Mils Muliaina (100). Cane recently returned from a back injury and in 2018 recovered after breaking his neck. The 32-year-old announced earlier this year that he will take up a three-year contract with Tokyo Sungoliath, where he played on sabbatical in 2024. Captain of the All Blacks for 27 Tests, he is one of just 71 men to lead their country for the iconic team. He was contracted to the national body until 2025 but was released on request ensuring that this year will be his last season in the black jersey with his wife Harriet and two-year-old son Hudson moving to Tokyo next year. Sid Sutton Hank van der Merwe Dave Letele Jo Malcolm Juliet Calder Gilbert Enoka ONZM Simon McMaster adidas RugbyDAO

This weekend we return to the spiritual home of the South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby), where Nelson Mandela was on hand to cheer the Springboks to victory at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Ellis Park, constructed in just eight months, hosted the All Blacks for the first time in 1928, just the second clash between the great rugby nations. That 7-6 victory was remarkable as the tourists had won 17-0 three weeks earlier and had already established New Zealand Rugby's heady legacy, thanks to the exploits of the 'Originals' and 'Invincibles' in 1905 and 1924 respectively. The Springboks would remain unbeaten at Ellis Park in further Tests in 1949 (12-6), 1960 (13-0), 1970 (20-17) and 1976 (15-14). It was not until 1992 in the "Return Test" that the All Blacks finally won at Ellis Park, with Sean Fitzpatrick, Sir John Kirwan, Zinzan Brooke and Ian Jones leading the tourists to a 27-24 win in what was a famous year for South Africa. It was in March that year that nearly 70% of voters ticked yes to end apartheid and the baasskap philosophy that had lasted 44 years. Their next match saw Nelson Mandela take the field in a Springboks jersey to award Francois Pienaar the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Joel Stransky and Andrew Mehrtens scored all the matches points as rugby transcended itself to unite the Republic. Encounters in 2000 and 2004 saw the Springboks breach the 40 point barrier on both occasions, with the first of those matches (46-40) being the most point's conceded by an All Blacks team in history at the time. The second of those Tests, a 40-26 defeat, was the catalyst for a change in culture for the Men in Black, driven by Sir Brian Lochore, Sir Graham Henry, Sir Steve Hansen and Fa'alogo Tana Umaga. The individual became a collective and so began a period of remarkable dominance for the All Blacks. Three of the last four Tests at the ground have been won by the visitors. The Boks last win, in 2014, was one of just three losses by the All Blacks between 2012 and 2015. Their most recent visit was an emotional 35-23 win which effectively saved Ian Fosters job. There is a moving series on NZR + about that incredible time All Blacks history (get.nzrplus.com) Heading into that game they had lost five of their last six, their third worst sequence of events in their history, but a classical performance by the then beleaguered team was a turning point. The faith shown to Foster and the team almost led to the ultimate reward, reaching last year's World Cup Final. They lost 11-12 to the Springboks. The upcoming match is their first clash since the South Africans won their fourth Webb Ellis Cup in eight attempts. This weekend is the 16th Test at the ground, with a 9-6 ledger to the hosts, a 23-22 aggregate scoreline and with an all-time attendance of 948,512 (average of 63,234). Nick Riggall 🏉🤖 David Robertson Matt Hymers Phil Camm Sid Sutton David Algie Simon McMaster Christopher Carroll Bryan Habana DAVID CAMPESE (AM) Bob Skinstad

"...as a captain, I sort of had to admit that I didn't have the tools in the box when it came to handling the pressure. And that's where it became a bit like, well how am I going to get that? Or is it just the fact that I haven't got it, and that's it." Those words from former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw should be exhilarating. Greatness is in reach for us all. But it begins with a frank admission of what tools you need to have, and whether or not you have them. And then what you need to do to get them. McCaw had an edge as a teenager. That edge was called Uncle Bigsy. McCaw's uncle, John McLay, was given the fitness program ahead of the trials for the New Zealand Rugby Under-19 squad. "You want to be in the New Zealand Under-19s?" Bigsy asked. "Do you want to be an All Black?" The goals led to achieving each level, playing for Canterbury Rugby Union and the Crusaders with a goal to make the Test team by 2004. As it was, he achieved this in 2001, aged 20 with just 17 first class games. He was, of course, chasing greatness, with his Uncle demanding that the goals, including become a Great All Black, be written down. A 18-year-old McCaw wrote G.A.B. instead. He, and the All Blacks, would achieve greatness. They did so with tacit admissions regarding the tools they did not have: the ability to thrive under pressure. In just under a week, we come to a fork on the road for two great rugby powers. For the hosts, the current and four-time World Champions and No.1 ranked team in the world, victories at Ellis Park and Johannesburg would put an exclamation mark on their own pursuit of excellence. Beat the All Blacks, win the Rugby Championship... ...and be the best Springboks team of all-time? For the visitors, the quest is far more difficult. The South Africans boast their most experienced squad ever (in 2015 the All Blacks had 1,484 caps) and the reality is that New Zealand has been in a constant rebuild mode for some years https://t.ly/6v7q7 Perhaps the best ever Springboks team, with approximately 60,000 South African supporters lining up each weekend at Ellis Park and Cape Town Stadium. The Boks have been reinforced with five World Cup winners. The ABs will tour without a first choice lock and loosehead. Rassie Erasmus has two World Cup wins and former All Black Tony Brown evolving their attack. The tourists are without Leon MacDonald, who departed their coaching setup last week. Pressure? Walk toward it, follow in the footsteps of McCaw and others, and an incredible opportunity awaits these All Blacks. They have won 25 of 52 games in the Republic so history isn't against them. But almost everything else is. Pull off upset victories and the successful defence of the Rugby Championship and the potential prize of best team in the world awaits. Honestly, my rugby brain sees a 2-0 Springboks win. But my familiarity with the legacy of this team has be wondering what surprises await. A massive week is ahead.