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Intense atmosphere and free-flowing play expected from both ends for North v South battle
By AAP
In Australia, it's state against state and mate against mate. In New Zealand, the biggest domestic sporting rivalry pits island against island and brother against brother.
The fabled North v South rugby clash has been resurrected this year after an eight-year hiatus.
The fixture was first played in 1897 and was a mainstay of NZ rugby last century. It was lost during the game's professional era but returns during the COVID-interrupted season.
Saturday night's clash in Wellington gives the modern-day All Blacks and aspirants a chance to replicate yesterday's heroes.
"I've never been part of such a unique game," South representative and Crusaders mainstay Codie Taylor said.
"The superstars of the game, names we still remember today, played in these fixtures.
"For some of them, it created our careers. Now we get the opportunity and we're really looking to get stuck into it."
There's a great anticipation around the game, which could be New Zealand's biggest of the year given international rugby is yet to be fixtured for 2020.
Taylor said it would be played at "Test match intensity" given the clash pits All Blacks incumbents against aspirants for the national shirt.
"There's definitely no love lost when you're going up against mates," he said.
"I think it's going to be pretty open too. The ref might play a bit of advantage and let the game flow so it's quite entertaining for the fans."
Players will run out for the island that they first played senior representative rugby, rather than the island of their home towns.
That means Taylor, who grew up in Levin near Wellington, will run out in South Island's white strip.
It also means the superstar Barrett brothers will face off against each other; Beauden Barrett as No.10 for North and Jordie Barrett in South's No.15.
The Christchurch-born Ash Dixon, who debuted in Napier but now runs out for the Otago Highlanders, will play i n North Island black.
"It's been a long time b etween drinks … and it's two outstanding sides that are going to come together and lock horns," Dixon said.
The last match in 2012 was won by South 32-24, but is best remembered for a touchline brawl.
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Latest Comments
Agreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
Go to commentsAs Naas would say... A win is a win.
It was not perfect and at times frustrating. All 3 tests were not the best by the Boks and they still found ways to win.
Rassie would have noted the sloppyness at times and silly mistakes. The 9's made amateur handling mistakes when clearing the rucks in all 3 tests.
Once the "stupid" mistakes are eliminated, this Bok team will be very very hard to beat.
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