Former All Blacks player Josh Cronfeld questioned the logic of holding the fourth test match between South Africa and New Zealand in the USA, expressing concerns about the narrative and stakes of the series.
Although most of world rugby's focus is on the opening match of the epic four-match series at Ellis Park on Saturday, former All Blacks open flanker Josh Cronfeld remains puzzled by the decision to conclude the tour in Baltimore, USA, on September 12.
In an exclusive interview with IOL, provided by Betway, Cronfeld noted: 'I don't understand this. If South Africa wins the home series, for example, 2-1, then the game in Baltimore might provide an opportunity for some redemption, or vice versa. Then this final match makes sense.'
This weekend will see a tense confrontation in Johannesburg, marking the start of four weeks of highly competitive games between these titanic world rugby teams.
The teams will meet again in the second match in Cape Town on August 29, and then return to Johannesburg for the third match at the renowned FNB Stadium on September 5.
After that, they will cross the Atlantic for a match that is clearly positioned as an exercise in 'expanding the global game.' However, for Cronfeld, who earned 54 captain's badges for New Zealand between 1995 and 2000, holding this historic rivalry on American soil at this point in the schedule remains deeply mysterious.
He added: 'I understand that money is involved here, but there must be a sporting reason for it. It has to mean something for the entire series. So I am just a little confused by this setup.' He also suggested that if a team intends to win the series there, it almost needs to win the first match to have a chance; otherwise, falling behind them anywhere in South Africa is extremely difficult.
Cronfeld presented a hypothetical scenario: 'Imagine returning to Ellis Park with a 1-1 draw—can you imagine the intensity?'