Ian Foster insists the All Blacks will not underestimate the Springboks in Wellington on Saturday.
The Boks head into the clash on the back of disappointing defeats to Argentina and Australia, with the knowledge that they have not beaten New Zealand since 2014.
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However, Foster says the All Blacks are still wary of the Boks.
‘We know they’re a very good team. We saw them play in June and beat a good England team and so we know they can play and they’ve shown some good stuff in the Rugby Championship and they’ve had a couple of losses in an away game.
‘It’s never been anything but 100% physical and brutal [against the Boks] and I can’t see any difference based on what we’ve heard. We know they’re going to be hungry. That’s a given.’
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The All Blacks assistant coach added that Bok coach Rassie Erasmus’ claim that his job is on the line may just have been to motivate his players.
‘Everyone – every coach, every management team – is trying to find the right way to approach a week and clearly it’s an approach they feel probably gets their boys in the right state of mind that the South African team needs to be in.’
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
