All Blacks prepare for Vodacom Bulls challenge
The All Blacks Head Coach Dave Rennie has announced the squad set to play against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. This fixture, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, marks the third match in the series known as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. The kick-off is slated for 7:00 PM local time on Saturday, which translates to 5:00 AM on Sunday, August 16, in New Zealand.
The match holds significance as it is the final preparatory game for the All Blacks before their first Test match against the Springboks. Rennie highlighted the importance of this game, noting the healthy competition among players for Test spots, providing another chance for individuals to demonstrate their readiness for selection.
Squad details and captaincy
Codie Taylor is set to captain the All Blacks for the first time in his 110th All Blacks match. Taylor returns to the squad after an injury and will lead the team in his first match of the tour. This marks a significant moment for the hooker, who is an All Blacks centurion and has been a key contributor to the team both as a player and a leader. Rennie extended his congratulations to Taylor, acknowledging his leadership of the tour group.
The match-day 23 includes several experienced players alongside newer faces. Xavier Numia and Tyrel Lomax, both props, will also be making their first appearances of the tour. The squad features a blend of players who have seen action in previous tour matches and those returning or making their debut on this tour.
The full match-day 23 squad is as follows:
- 1. Xavier Numia (2, 0)
- 2. Codie Taylor (109, 0) (Captain)
- 3. Tyrel Lomax (51, 0)
- 4. Fabian Holland (12, 1)
- 5. Patrick Tuipulotu (57, 3)
- 6. Simon Parker (8, 1)
- 7. Anton Segner (2, 1)
- 8. Peter Lakai (10, 1)
- 9. Cortez Ratima (24, 2)
- 10. Josh Jacomb (0, 1)
- 11. Josh Moorby (2, 1)
- 12. Anton Lienert-Brown (90, 2)
- 13. Rieko Ioane (88, 1)
- 14. Leroy Carter (7, 1)
- 15. Beauden Barrett (144, 2)
Reserves for the match include Samisoni Taukei’aho (44, 1), George Bower (26, 1), Siale Lauaki (0, 1), Josh Lord (15, 1), Wallace Sititi (21, 1), Kyle Preston (1, 2), Timoci Tavatavanawai (2, 1), and Emoni Narawa (4, 1).
Six players from the All Blacks team that secured a 54-0 victory against the Sharks on Tuesday will also be backing up for the Bulls match. These players are lock Josh Lord, loose forward Wallace Sititi, halfbacks Kyle Preston and Cortez Ratima, midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai, and outside back Emoni Narawa. Both Kyle Preston and Cortez Ratima will be playing their third game of the tour. Additionally, 14 players named in the 23-man squad for the Bulls game also participated in the opening match against the Stormers.
The challenge at Loftus Versfeld
Coach Rennie acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by the Vodacom Bulls, describing them as consistently the best franchise side in South Africa. He noted their achievement of reaching the United Rugby Championship finals in four of the last five years. Rennie also highlighted Loftus Versfeld as one of the most challenging rugby grounds globally, expressing excitement for the upcoming match.
The All Blacks have a historical connection with Loftus Versfeld, having played there 16 times since 1928. This includes six Tests against the Springboks and four games against Northern Transvaal, the forerunner to the Bulls, in 1949, 1960, 1970, and 1976. The All Blacks won the first three of these matches against Northern Transvaal but lost the 1976 game 29-27.
Other opponents the All Blacks have faced at Loftus Versfeld include the Junior Springboks, South African Universities, Northern Universities, South African Combined Services, Pretoria, and Pretoria Clubs. The venue also hosted the All Blacks’ match against Scotland during the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
The stadium’s altitude, located 1350 metres above sea level, is a notable factor. The rarefied air at this elevation allows kicks to travel further than at sea level. A notable instance of this was Dan Carter’s 62-metre penalty goal during the All Blacks’ 45-26 victory, which occurred twenty years ago and is considered possibly the longest penalty kick by an All Black.
Bulls’ new fly-half eager for clash
On the Vodacom Bulls side, new fly-half Curwin Bosch has expressed his anticipation for the match against the All Blacks. Bosch recently joined the Bulls on a three-year contract after a stint in France with Brive. He is expected to make his competitive debut for the Pretoria-based team in this highly anticipated fixture at Loftus Versfeld.
Bosch believes his time in France, particularly with the PRO D2 outfit, provided him with a mental reset and helped him regain his best form. He noted that being back in South Africa, even in Pretoria where he had not lived before, feels like home. The 29-year-old stated that the move to Brive came at an opportune moment in his career, allowing him to focus on playing rugby without distractions.
The fly-half is keen to combine the freedom he rediscovered in France with his accumulated experience. He is looking forward to testing himself against what he considers one of the best teams in the world. Despite his last appearance for the Springboks being in 2018, Bosch maintains strong ambitions for Test rugby, asserting that his actions on the field will speak for his aspirations.
Bosch also highlighted the unique opportunity this match presents, noting that the last time the Vodacom Bulls played the All Blacks was before he was born. He views it as a lifetime chance to compete against the second-best team in the world.
Source: allblacks.com
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