BOSSING THE ALL BLACKS BREAKFAST!

 

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry — No doubt! The All Blacks will be in town later this year to challenge the old foe in green and gold once again! It’s going to be an incredible seven weeks of powerhouse rugby and CorporateSport will be celebrating the fierce battle between these two rugby nations at a business breakfast in May, which will feature five Springboks who have battered the All Blacks in the past – literally and figuratively!

 

Bossing the All Blacks up until 2018 proved a mostly fruitless challenge, but this changed dramatically under Rassie Erasmus. There were some wonderful exceptions, however.

 

The most famous drop-kick in Springbok history, slotted in extra time by Joel Stransky at Ellis Park in 1995, secured the Springboks their first RWC trophy against Sean Fitzpatrick’s heavily favoured All Black side.

 

James “Bullet” Dalton missed out on the 1995 RWC Final against the All Blacks after his red card against Canada in the Pool game. But the fiery hooker played a key role in the Springboks’ record 17-game unbeaten run under Nick Mallett. He played in the famous first Springbok Tri-Nations title-winning side in 1998, winning 13-3 against the All Blacks in Wellington, which helped secure the title against a side which had dominated the Tri Nations up until then. It was also the first Springbok victory in New Zealand since 1981! The Springboks clinched the title against the All Blacks in Durban, after trailing 5-23 with 13 minutes to go! “Bullet” scored the match-winning try in the last seconds. Giddy stuff at Kings Park!

 

Bismarck Du Plessis will always be remembered for his massive hit on All Black fly-half Dan Carter at Eden Park in 2013. The incident instigated a mighty on-field brawl and saw Carter off injured and Du Plessis red carded for the greatest tackle in rugby history! His version of events will be worth the breakfast cost alone! It’s hilarious!

 

Victor Matfield captained the Springboks to another famous away win against the All Blacks in 2008, winning 30-28 in Dunedin, despite being down to 14 men. This was the Springbok’s first win in Dunedin ever and ended the All Blacks 29-test winning streak at home. Matfield has many other war stories against the All Blacks to tell.

 

Steven Kitshoff’s career was cruelly ended after injury in 2024, but the charismatic prop forward started in Rassie’s statement and very important win against the All Blacks in Wellington in 2018 and of course he started against the All Blacks in the epic RWC Final in Paris in 2023. Will be great to celebrate his contribution to Springbok rugby!

 

So, five Springboks who have played dramatic and pivotal roles in matches against the old foe! Should be plenty of rugby banter with James, Bismarck and Steven on stage!

 

Join your key clients in May to hear them elaborate on these moments and more and also look ahead to the much anticipated series against the All Blacks.

 

Derek Alberts will be the MC for the morning.