Greatest Rivalry series: rugby's biggest spectacle kicks off in Cape Town

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series kicks off at 7pm in Cape Town tonight, 7 August, marking the return of an integral part of the game between two old foes, award-winning rugby writer Dan Retief told Simon Parkinson, morning show presenter at Hot FM.

Asked about the significance of the series, Retief said test tours between the All Blacks and the Springboks have been missed and that there's all-round excitement about its return. 

Retief, who authored The Springboks and the Holy Grail about the national team's World Cup glory period leading up to 2007, said the All Blacks coming to South Africa on tour is the game's “biggest spectacle”.

For New Zealand's feared team, on the rebound after a bad spell that included a record 43-10 loss to the Boks in Wellington last year, it's going to be "a tremendously hard tour", he said.

"The All Blacks are going to have to play four URC sides and play four tests, plus the last one's going to be in America (Baltimore)."

They know what they have to do, Retief said – instill confidence that they're back to winning ways. 

That much they have proved on home soil with a narrow victory over a somewhat under-strength French side, followed by a convincing win against Ireland. Coming to South Africa, however, is a different ballgame altogether, and it's going to be tough for the visitors from the start, even though their campaign starts in Cape Town, where the men in black have a lot of support.

"The All Blacks will want a winning start," Retief said, adding that it's going to be interesting to see what they serve up considering that "a lot of their really top players that we've seen in the Rugby Nations are not playing in this game."

"I think the Stormers are affected as well because they have some really good players who are away with the Springboks, for instance, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu" – currently in Argentina for tomorrow's clash against the Pumas. 

The Stormers "would love to have had him", Retief said, adding that the tremendous depth Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has built into the team "does weaken the provinces". And yet, "the Stormers can (still) put out a good side," he said.

"They have picked a very good side with lots of pace in the back. What's going to be really exciting is the halfbacks at number nine and 10 (Imad Khan and Aqeem Ahmed)."

Retief said it's well known what Khan is capable of, having done duty for the Stormers before.

As for Ahmed, a firecracker who played a huge role in the Junior Springboks retaining the World Rugby U20 Championship title, Retief said: "There's lots of expectations for him. He seems to be the entire package, and he gets his break tonight."

On tour to South Africa in 1976, the All Blacks led 11-0 at the break against what was then still known as Western Province, only to lose 12-11.

The Stormers must be fancying their chances of causing another upset, but the All Blacks, with a full strength side, will no doubt want to make a strong statement.