QBE Stadium is no home venue to the Springboks despite Albany's growing South African population

  • 12/09/2017

The Springboks aren't buying into the notion that fan support will be split fifty-fifty when they take on the All Blacks at QBE Stadium, on the North Shore of Auckland on Saturday night.

The South African population on the north side of the Harbour Bridge has been increasing at a rapid rate in recent years – some going as far as calling Albany 'Little South Africa'.

In the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the Springboks played a pool match against Samoa at the same venue, and it was a sea of green and yellow.

However winger Courtnall Skosan says playing the All Blacks in their own backyard is a very different proposition, and they are preparing to face a pro-New Zealand crowd.

"It's just another game at the end of the day," said Skosan."It's 80 minutes that we have to play being it home or away.

"Obviously if you are at home you have a little bit of an advantage with the home crowd behind you, but we are playing an away game – it's a New Zealand team in New Zealand so it's going to be tough to go out there and get the result."

Skosan is coming off a terrific season for the Super Rugby runners-up, the Lions, and has been impressive in playing five of South Africa's six Tests in 2017.

Courtnall Skosan scores for the Springboks against the Pumas
Courtnall Skosan scores for the Springboks against the Pumas Photo credit: Getty

The 26-year-old is fizzing at the prospect of facing the All Blacks for the first time, and matching up against the likes of Rieko Ioane and Israel Dagg, if given the opportunity, would be a career highlight.

However Skosan says it doesn't matter what combination Steve Hansen comes up with for his back three, as all the options available are world class.

"They are special players – whoever plays there, they are going to have quality players out there.

"I don't think we should focus on one guy,or in this case three guys, it's a team effort at the end of the day so if we can cover all our bases, then hopefully we can get the result at the weekend."

Meanwhile it will be the battle up front that may ultimately decide who comes out on top on Saturday.

Springboks forwards coach Johann van Graan is borderline giddy when pondering the potentially brutal match-up between both sides tight-fives.

Van Graan is predicting a titanic battle between arguably the two best lineouts in world rugby.

"That's what we love. The challenge," Van Graan said.

"The New Zealand lineout is very good.

"I have come up against them now for six years. Guys like Eben {Etzebeth], Pieter-Steph [du Toit] and Lodewyk [De Jager] have had unbelievable, massive battles with them.

South African captain Eben Etzebeth
South African captain Eben Etzebeth Photo credit: Getty

"They all know each other so well.

"The way that Brodie [Retallick] and Eben match up … Sam Whitelock did an excellent job for the Crusaders.

"We know what to expect – I'm sure both teams will come up with one or two new things … I can't wait to get going."

Anything less than a win for the visiting side would all-but hand the Rugby Championship to New Zealand.

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