All Blacks draw on 1996 success before South Africa tour

Dave Rennie’s All Blacks have turned to one of the most significant tours in New Zealand rugby history for inspiration as they begin their South African adventure.

Members of the 1996 All Blacks touring squad met Rennie’s players before the team’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, sharing memories and advice from their own successful campaign in South Africa.

The 1996 tour remains a landmark moment for New Zealand rugby. It was the last extended All Blacks tour of South Africa and produced the team’s first series victory away from home against the Springboks.

New Zealand won that series 2-1, claiming victory across three Tests.

“It was pretty special,” Rennie told reporters at an All Blacks welcoming event at Cape Town Stadium on Friday.

“We had an evening where a few of them came and shared stories. There was a lot of laughs and a lot of critical information.

“But [it was] a good chance for our boys to interact with a team that’s travelled here and been successful,” he said.

The meeting offered particular value to a squad featuring “quite a lot of new young players”, according to Rennie. The coach said his players are still learning, and many of the younger members of the group would have had little opportunity before now to connect with All Blacks who had toured and succeeded in South Africa.

Rennie also recognised the significance of the time that has passed since the previous extended tour.

“So 30 years ago, it’s been a long time. Fantastic for those guys to come and spend time with us.”

The All Blacks coach wants his squad to experience more than just the rugby during their time in South Africa. He said the players must embrace both the country and the challenge ahead, while also making space to enjoy their surroundings during the tour.

“We’ve got to make sure that we embrace the country and embrace the challenge,” Rennie noted.

“We’ve got to get our head out of the footy at times too. So we’ll definitely make sure that we enjoy a bit of downtime.”

New Zealand’s tour begins against the Stormers in Cape Town next Friday. The All Blacks will then face the Sharks and Bulls before playing their first Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park on 22 August.

The South African series is being billed as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, with the All Blacks preparing to draw on the experience of a previous generation while building a new campaign of their own.

The 1996 tourists’ achievement has given Rennie’s squad a direct link to a successful chapter in the rivalry between New Zealand and South Africa. Their stories provided both historical perspective and practical insight before the current group started its latest challenge.

The All Blacks’ welcoming event in Cape Town formally marked the beginning of the tour, with the team now preparing for its opening fixture against the Stormers before attention turns to the three matches against South African opposition and the first Test at Ellis Park.