Winning at Ellis Park is hugely rewarding, says Marshall
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The rugby world is awash with talk of the recent downfall of the All Blacks as Ian Foster’s men have claimed just one victory in their last four Tests – displaying form so uncharacteristic that it has left many bewildered and dumbfounded. The recent 26-10 loss to the Springboks in Nelspruit has appeared to have cemented the notion in the media that Foster’s time is up and things are not expected to become any easier this weekend as his charges face the Boks at Ellis Park on Saturday – a ground notoriously difficult and hostile for opposition.
While it is definitely not a good time to be an All Black, one of the jersey’s favourite sons, Justin Marshall, has pointed out that a titanic effort from captain Sam Cane and co. will reap enormous rewards going forward.
“I’ve been to Ellis Park numerous times as an All Black, it’s one of the most difficult stadiums to win a Test match at... but it’s one of the most rewarding,” he said on a recent podcast.
“If you can go there and silence that very patriotic crowd, walk out onto the field and get stuck into the Springboks, it’s a great place to win.
“It’s a great changing shed to sit down in after the game and have a cold beer and look at your mates and go, ‘You know what, this is one of the toughest challenges in the game – playing at Ellis Park and winning.”
49 year-old Marshall notched up 81 All Black caps between 1995 and 2005 and remains one of New Zealand’s most celebrated scrumhalves.
He went on to share his thoughts on how the senior men in the All Black camp should be rallying their troops as the Ellis Park Test inches nearer.
“Like, if I’m an All Black this week – and a senior All Black – I'm getting this group really tight and I’m saying, ‘You know what, there’s a very clear direction that we could take on Saturday and make a positive step into the future; and that is to go out onto Ellis Park and take them apart’. And they’re capable of doing it, they’ve just got to get their minds there.”
