This is the moment we have all been waiting for. The fight between the two rugby rivals is finally upon us. South Africa’s Springboks will be going head-to-head with three-time cup holders New Zealand at this year’s Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France in Paris tonight.
This follows a nerve-wracking two games for the Boks after they narrowly reached victory in their quarter-final match against France and the semi-final against England. Nonetheless, fans are confident the reigning world champions will bring the cup home!
IsimoVest Venture Capital Partners Managing Partner Yongama Skweyiya explained to Food For Mzansi that the last two weeks have not been easy for him to watch.
He said his watch kept on beeping as his blood pressure rose during the tense games but he remains confident that the Boks’ defence will be solid and more tries will be scored to bring home the cup where it belongs.
A good start is crucial
“It would be great if they could play more attacking rugby from the onset, learn from the examples of teams like Argentina, and take on the All Blacks. If we rest on our laurels as we have in the last two games, we will get a thrashing from an All Black team, undergoing an upswing in confidence.
“We need to put our game plan into action from the onset, play our strategy instead of waiting for the other team to determine the pace and direction of the game,” he said.
He suggested that the Boks need to be at the breakdowns with the flanks clearing the rucks, set pieces need to be perfect, and kicking for goal will be imperative.
“In order to gain a mental advantage over this All Blacks team, we need to be clever with our kicking game. If we are kicking for territory, we need to make sure that the ball goes out.
“I would imagine the whole team is running on empty, this has been a brutal six weeks of rugby and the pool stages were especially daunting for South Africa. Our depth in players has allowed us to have fresh members on the field in the last 35 minutes, which has been quite a game-changer. But the first half needs to be well executed to make that last 35 count. Boys, yibuyiseni (bring it home)!” he said.
It’s time!
Standard Bank senior manager Keneilwe Nailana told Food For Mzansi that the Boks have played well with an emphasis on dogged defence during the last two games.
“Defence without offence will not guarantee winning. So I would like to see more attacks off the first phase from them. That means more creativity in midfield and linking up with forwards. We need play that will force their loose forwards to commit to breakdowns,” she said.
For the Boks to come out victorious, she advised that they need to better the All Blacks in the first phase and in the aerial battle and be more successful in first-time tackles.
She said, “The Boks must be confident. They must play going forward. They must create more chances of one-on-one match-ups for our wings. You have been planning for this moment for four years Bokke. It is now time to trust your process and execute. Ke nako (It’s time).”
Playing smart is crucial
For Land Bank marketing senior specialist Vukani Makalima the Springboks must reserve their energy and minimise mistakes by maintaining pace with the All Blacks, who knows the Boks have a strong bench in the Bomb Squad.
“They will do everything possible to try and score early points and maintain a big score margin early on. The Boks must ensure to not allow that,” he said.
He believes all the hard work has been done and is now time to allow the mind to soak in the atmosphere, acclimate to the momentous occasion, and for the Boks to be ready to perform.
“Take in the pressure let it simmer and keep you slightly on edge so that your adrenaline is ready to pump at a moment’s notice,” he said.
“You have an entire nation behind you, we salute your effort, and we appreciate your sacrifice. You don’t need to make us proud, we already are. All we care about is you doing your best for this beloved nation we all call ours!”
New Zealand livestock farming
Research in the New Zealand Trade Consortium Working Paper, No. 32 conducted by John Ballingall and Ralph Lattimore, reveals that the dairy herd in New Zealand has grown significantly in the last several years.
The number of dairy cattle climbed from 3.4 million in 1991 to 5.2 million in 2003. The South Island of New Zealand has seen the fastest growth in dairy production, with a doubling of the population since 1994.
According to the research, the expansion has partly been a response to the extremely high dairy returns that were seen in the late 1990s, at a time when the value of the New Zealand dollar was approximately US$0.38 and global dairy prices peaked. In the long run, the trend of dairy conversion can be partially attributed to the fall in the real price of wool.
The deer business has been one of the main sectors of animal farming’s growth. Since 1994, the number of deer has grown 38%, reaching almost 1.7 million in 2003.
“A comprehensive history of the deer industry’s growth in New Zealand may be read in Nixon (2004, forthcoming). The two main deer goods marketed abroad are velvet and meat, mostly to Korea and Germany for the velvet and venison, respectively,” the report stated.
ALSO READ: SA vs. France: Bring on the battle of the rugby titans
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