All Blacks win will be one short of record

07 October 2016 - 10:49 By Mike Makaab

The Currie Cup semifinalists will have another week off to prepare as the major match of the South African rugby weekend is the Test match between long-time rivals South Africa and New Zealand. The All Blacks arrived in Durban from Argentina on Monday, aware that a win over the Boks at Kings Park will equal the record for a major rugby nation of 17 wins running held by two previous All Black teams and South Africa.That will leave them just one win short of a record. Few who have seen this juggernaut demolish all in this Rugby Championship, which they won over a fortnight ago, will argue that they are by far the best team in world rugby.Even fewer will be unhappy about this group achieving the record they so richly deserve.Can the Springboks derail their bid and beat the All Blacks this weekend? I would love to say yes, but such is the seeming gulf in class between these two rugby-playing nations at the moment that it should be a matter of by how many points the New Zealanders will win.I think it will a far closer contest than the previous encounter in Christchurch, which the home team won 41-13, but still a points difference in double figures. My tip: a New Zealand victory by 12 points.We were successful with our Rugby 5 Pool last weekend, so let's try and make it back-to-back wins.MIKE RECOMMENDS: Rugby 5 permutation for this Saturday 8 October R5 P1, at a cost of R240: M1 = 1, 4; M2 = 1, 4; M3 = 4, 5; M4 = 4, 5; M5 = 1, 2, 4...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.