Springboks scrumhalf Morne van den Berg is preparing for a decisive match against the All Blacks. He eagerly anticipates the second confrontation with the New Zealand team, which will take place this Saturday at the FNB stadium in Soweto.
Van den Berg hopes to continue his winning streak in test rugby as the Springboks meet New Zealand in the third crucial match in Johannesburg on Saturday. Previously, he experienced the intensity of playing against arch-rivals for the first time in Cape Town, coming on as a substitute and helping the world champions secure a tough 33-26 victory at the DHL stadium.
Now that the Boks are targeting a 2-1 advantage in the greatest rugby rivalry, all attention will be focused on the final match on South African soil at the FNB stadium (kick-off at 17:00) in Soweto, where Van den Berg will play his first match in Johannesburg.
Player's role in the previous match
The Lions scrumhalf came onto the field at a critical moment in Cape Town, contributing to the stabilization of the Boks' defense, and his kicking game helped the team avoid problems multiple times. Although he had few attacking opportunities after the world champions established a foundation in the first half with three tries, this quick scrumhalf is ready to do whatever is necessary to ensure another Boks victory.
He emphasized that the team aimed to improve ball retention after the events in Ellis Park in the first match, and they managed to clear the ball to create attacking opportunities in the Mother City. Van den Berg noted: 'Yes, obviously, it was a huge area for us to work on after the first match,' referring to rucks and ensuring the All Blacks did not steal their possession.
He added: 'Unfortunately, my 25 minutes were mostly defensive. So I think I had about three (attacking) rucks, and by then, I think we handled forcing turnovers from them very well. However, it was a really cool experience playing against them (for the first time). They are obviously one of the best teams in the world, so experiencing this intensity (at Test level) was really good.'
Team prospects
The Springboks will play their last home match of the year at the FNB stadium, and coach Rassie stated that the team needs determination and composure to say goodbye in the best possible way. In his first eight matches, Van den Berg has not lost any, and the Boks hope he will once again be their 'magic talisman' on Saturday as they strive for two consecutive wins and undisputed leadership in the four-match series.
The 26-year-old player will also get the opportunity to play his first match in Johannesburg at the iconic FNB arena, having previously played at this venue for his franchise in front of approximately 40,000 spectators. While Van den Berg recognizes the importance of Saturday's meeting, as the Boks are only one win away from gaining an undisputed 2-1 advantage before the final fixture in the USA, he insists that the team is not looking beyond the immediate challenge.
He concluded: 'It really feels like a deciding match of the series; you can certainly say that. But we haven't looked past this weekend yet. It's a really important Test, and we will give everything this weekend, and then we'll see.'