Dixon will face arguably his toughest test in the green and gold jersey on Saturday when he takes the field against the Springboks’ southern hemisphere arch-rivals in their third match of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in a game that marks the first time the teams meet since the Rugby World Cup final in France last year (which the Boks won 12-11), but he said he was looking forward to the challenge.
Dixon will start in a quality loose trio with captain Siya Kolisi and No 8 Jasper Wiese, who makes a welcome return to the team after a six-match suspension.
“It’s a dream come true because as a youngster I was a Bok fan and you plan your Saturday around Test matches, so to be able to experience playing against them is something I’m really looking forward to,” said Dixon.
“There were some nerves earlier in the week, but we’ve been training with a lot of urgency and intensity this week, although it is not different to any other Test week.”
With the physical and hard running forward becoming a regular feature in the Bok squad this season, he admitted that the magnitude of the opportunity had not fully sunk in yet, but that he’s been cherishing every moment.
“I’m living in the moment and the excitement of it all right now,” said Dixon. “I don’t think everything has fully sunken in, so I’m just trying to soak it all up and enjoy it.”
Asked if he had watched the RWC final for a few tips about what to expect at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday, Dixon said: “I watched it a few times and I saw what Pieter-Steph du Toit did (in that game). Obviously, I don’t play the same type of game as he does, but the way he played certainly gave me a lot of confidence.”
Dixon was also excited to have experienced lock Eben Etzebeth back in the squad after he received the green light to start on the bench earlier on Wednesday and said it would make his load lighter, as he may have had to stand in as a back-up lock in the case of injury.
“What stood out for me the first time I chatted to Eben was the way he got himself up for games and his competitiveness and desire to win,” said Dixon.
“The more experience he gets, the hungrier he gets to win, and he wears his heart on his sleeve in the way he plays, so I definitely feed off that energy as a player. Having him in the squad simplifies my job a little bit too.”
Springbok prop Ox Nche, meanwhile, looked forward to the scrum and forward battle in what should be another epic Test between the teams.
“For me the scrums are personal, just as it is for every other player," said Nche.
"When I pack down there, I know I’m representing my country and I take a lot of pride in that. So, the key for me is to prepare as well as I can and keep giving my best.”
The powerful prop brushed off talk of the team’s win record against the All Blacks at Emirates Airline Park.
“I don’t think we are too worried about that," he said.
"The last time we faced them was in the Rugby World Cup final, and we know they’ll come out guns blazing for us, rather than thinking about the past.”
The Boks wrapped up their main on-field preparations for the match on Wednesday and will have Thursday off to rest before their traditional captains run on Friday.
