Morne van den Berg, a Springboks midfielder, emphasized that the team will not focus solely on neutralizing number nine Kam Roigard, but on the entire attacking setup of the All Blacks in Soweto on Saturday.
Despite being aware of the threat posed by Kam Roigard, van den Berg insists that South Africa will not allow their defensive plans against the All Blacks to revolve around one player. In preparation for the crucial third match of the greatest rugby rivalry in Johannesburg on Saturday (starting at 17:00), van den Berg believes that the key to containing Roigard lies not in an individual attack on him, but in implementing the defensive system and applying pressure to the entire New Zealand attack.
The Lions midfielder is ready to contribute from the bench. His tactical insights and quick distribution could be useful for the world champions in the final match on South African soil. Since the series is tied 1-1, the winner of the match at the FNB stadium will gain an undeniable advantage heading into the last match in the USA next week.
Van den Berg noted that Roigard is one of New Zealand's most dangerous attacking players, capable of bringing dynamism and unpredictability to the flanks. He successfully exploited gaps in the first two matches and occasionally troubled the defense. However, van den Berg understands that excessive concentration on one player can open opportunities for other dangerous attacking elements of the All Blacks. He stressed that the approach is to increase overall team pressure, rather than singling out the midfielder as a specific target.
For van den Berg, the encounter with New Zealand is highly significant. It will be his second match against the All Blacks and his first in his hometown of Johannesburg. The 23-year-old athlete grew up watching the Kiwis stars, dreaming of one day meeting them in green and gold. On Saturday, he will have another chance to test himself after the challenge in Cape Town last week.
He also shared his idols: 'As a child, Dan Carter was like a rugby rock star. If you are a child in South Africa, you dream of playing for the Boks against the All Blacks. But I grew up a huge fan of the Lions, Ricky Januarie, his combinations with Andre Pretorius. Then there was Jano Vermaak, and as I got older, Faf de Klerk became a player I truly admired.'