‘Unbeaten In Green & Gold’: Why Den Berg Isn’t Fearing The All Blacks In Soweto
Morné van den Berg is relishing the opportunity to play a Test match in his home city when the Springboks face New Zealand at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The scrumhalf is adamant that South Africa’s defensive structure will be key to containing the All Blacks’ dangerous attack.
Ahead of the third Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, with the four-match series locked at 1-1 following South Africa’s 33-26 victory in Cape Town last weekend, Van den Berg admitted that playing his first Test in Johannesburg is something he has always looked forward to.
“It’s something I’ve always dreamed of,” Van den Berg said of the opportunity to play in Johannesburg.
The Springbok No 9 also reflected on his first experience of facing the All Blacks, having come off the bench in Cape Town last weekend.
“It was a really cool experience,” he said.
“Obviously, one of the best sides in the world, so to experience that intensity was really good.”
Van den Berg played around 25 minutes in the second Test and was primarily involved in defensive duties as New Zealand attempted to find a way through the Springboks’ defence.
“My 25 minutes were mostly defence. I think I had like three rucks,” he explained, highlighting the importance of the defensive system in dealing with the All Blacks’ attacking threats.
One of those threats is New Zealand scrumhalf Cam Roigard, who has emerged as a significant attacking weapon during the opening two Tests.
However, Van den Berg insisted that the Springboks are not approaching the challenge by simply focusing on Roigard as an individual.
Instead, the Boks believe the answer lies in winning the physical battle around the breakdown and preventing the All Blacks from gaining quick, front-foot ball.
“If we can win the contact battle and make sure they don’t get front-foot ball at the breakdown, that’s when we can limit their opportunities,” Van den Berg explained.
That will be particularly important given the attacking threat New Zealand possess when they generate quick ball and get their dangerous runners into space.
Despite conceding nine tries across the opening two Tests, Van den Berg remains confident in the Springboks’ defensive system and believes there is no need for drastic changes.
The focus, he suggested, is on executing their structures more effectively.
“We’re not necessarily focusing on individuals. It’s about our system and making sure we get that right,” he said.
For Van den Berg, Saturday’s clash represents another opportunity to strengthen his claims in a fiercely competitive Springbok scrumhalf department.
He has already enjoyed an impressive start to his international career and, remarkably, has yet to taste defeat in a Test match for South Africa.
The 28-year-old will again provide impact from the bench after Rassie Erasmus named Cobus Reinach as the starting scrumhalf for the Soweto showdown.
But with the All Blacks expected to bring another intense attacking challenge, Van den Berg could once again play an important role in the closing stages.
And with the series level at 1-1, the stakes could hardly be higher.
For Van den Berg, however, the chance to represent his country in front of his hometown crowd at one of South Africa’s most iconic sporting venues provides added motivation.
“It’s going to be special,” he said of returning to Johannesburg.
Now he will hope to make the occasion even more memorable by helping the Springboks move ahead in the four-Test series.
