South Africa flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and New Zealand flanker Sam Cane have special reasons for wanting to impress in the Rugby Championship clash of titans on Saturday.
Preferred to double Rugby World Cup winner Handre Pollard, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 22, faces the biggest challenge of a Test career that began just two months ago.
Cane, 32, will seek redemption in Johannesburg having been sent off in the 2023 World Cup final in Paris, where the Springboks prevailed 12-11 against the All Blacks.
A couple of bonus-point wins over struggling Australia has lifted South Africa to 10 points after two rounds as they seek to become southern hemisphere champions for only the second time.
Playing catch-up
Second-placed New Zealand are five points behind after suffering a stunning eight-point loss to Argentina in the opening round before rebounding with a big win in a rematch a week later.
Most South Africans believed 73-cap Pollard, whose four penalties won the 2023 World Cup final, would start before a sell-out 62,000 crowd at Ellis Park.
But after using Feinberg-Mngomezulu four times off the bench, then starting him twice in Australia, coach Rassie Erasmus says the playmaker should be tested at the highest level.
Erasmus believes internationals against New Zealand are the ultimate test and determine whether a Springbok is "ready or not" to participate in one of the great rugby rivalries.
The coach, who played key roles in the 2019 and 2023 World Cup triumphs, accepts there are risks, but says Feinberg-Mngomezulu "must be allowed to make some mistakes”.
Brilliant goal-kicker
"We have been building Sacha up against Wales, Ireland, Portugal and Australia, so why not give him a chance against New Zealand?”
Pollard, 30, a brilliant goal-kicker but less impressive than his rival with ball in hand, is among the replacements.
Erasmus also opted for promise over experience at fullback with Aphelele Fassi, 26, preferred to Willie le Roux, 35, another double World Cup champion.
After completing a six-Test ban, Jasper Wiese gets the nod as No.8 despite concerns he may be rusty having not played since May.
"Jasper will bring a lot of energy on attack and defence after biding his time to return to the field," says Erasmus.
Cane makes his first start of the season, replacing injured Dalton Papali'i, and says "nothing excites me more than facing the Springboks in South Africa”.
"It is one of the ultimate challenges for an All Black. Every Test match in South Africa is massive.”
New Zealand coach Scott Robertson hailed the openside flanker, saying "it is an opportunity for Sam to be that Test veteran we need with that experience and calmness”.
Cane was sin binned in the 2023 World Cup final, with the punishment upgraded to a red card after an off-field review, leaving New Zealand a man short for more than half the match.
While the Springboks are favourites, they must improve their discipline as All Blacks flyhalf Damian McKenzie has missed just one of 13 kicks at goal in the Championship this year.
AFP