Springboks legend Joel Stransky believes the world champions’ mental strength will be crucial if they want to beat the All Blacks when the old foes meet at Eden Park next year.
On Tuesday, New Zealand Rugby confirmed their home Test schedule for 2025 and the big news was that one of the two highly anticipated Rugby Championship matches between the All Blacks and Springboks will be played at Eden Park on September 6, while Sky Stadium in Wellington will host the second encounter on September 13.
The confirmation of the Eden Park clash means the All Blacks will put their much treasured 50-match unbeaten run at the famous venue on the line against the world champions, who finished 2024 with 11 out victories out of 13 Tests played during the year.
All Blacks last tasted defeat at Eden Park in 1994
New Zealand’s impressive record at Eden Park – which is regarded as that country’s spiritual home – stretches back to 1994 when they last finished on the losing side at the famous venue in Auckland – falling to a 23-20 defeat to France.
Since then, the men in black have racked up a whopping 48 victories at Eden Park and also registered two draws.
The All Blacks have faced 12 different oppositions at Eden Park since that loss to Les Bleus 30 years ago and this will be their first match against the Springboks since 2013 when the home side sealed a 29-15 win.
Earlier this year the men in black had to dig deep to retain their unbeaten streak at Eden Park before eventually clinching a 24-17 victory over England in July.
The All Blacks’ impressive record at Eden Park will be severely tested against the Springboks, who have earned a reputation for grounding out victories through sheer willpower.
And Stransky feels the Boks’ mental toughness will stand them in good stead in their bid to end the All Blacks’ superb run at Eden Park.
“That’s a massive record,” Stransky told Mnews. “So if you think about the evolution and transition now that’s happening (with the Springboks), if it is with any of the guys that end up playing that game, I mean, it will be a tough stage. It will be tough to beat them at Eden Park, and it’s fair for everyone.
All Blacks’ ‘young team is maturing and coming to the fore’
“And the timing might be better for the All Blacks than it is for us, in terms of the fact that their young team is maturing and coming to the fore.
“They’ve got some old heads there and they have got a lot of great young players coming through. We’re in a similar situation.
“But I think the one thing that we know for sure about this Boks side, for them it doesn’t matter where they play. They just have the absolute confidence to go out between four lines and have any setting in the world, and believe they can win. And that’s important.
“Physically, obviously, it’s important to deliver, but mentally it’s so, so tough to believe. But this team believes, right? They know they can win anyway.”
