Springboks the greatest challenge - Brooke   24 Oct 2015

Lynn McConnell

Springboks the greatest challenge - Brooke

24 Oct 2015     Getty Images

Winning a World Cup is the pinnacle but beating South Africa isn't far behind, Brooke said in The Daily Telegraph.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was right when saying South Africa would want 'to rip our heads off', he said.

"I know because I felt exactly the same way when I was playing them," Brooke said.

"It might seem overly dramatic but that's what you had to do to get yourself mentally ready for combat, how you psyched yourself up."

While all teams were physical there was always an extra edge for the All Blacks against South Africa.

Getty Images


"It won't happen now with all the concussion protocols, but when you got half knocked out in my day you stayed on the pitch against them.

"Don't show pain. Don't show weakness. Of all the teams you faced, you never wanted to show them you were hurt because they thrived off that," he said.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer was like a spin doctor in calling the All Blacks the best of all time.

That was pure mind game stuff and Brooke said he was pleased that Hansen saw through it.

"They know what is coming on Saturday and it won't be any more compliments," Brooke said.

He said whenever playing in his backyard as a youth against his brother he always imagined he was tackling a Springbok.

"Even now when I am throwing a ball around I imagine that I'm up against 15 Boks. It never leaves you," he said.

"To be part of the first New Zealand team to win [a Test series] there in 1996 was one of the most special moments of my career.

"The year before we had lost to them in the World Cup final which hurt a lot.

"We didn't fear the Boks. We felt we were the better side but the proof is always on the field. There has been no other feeling like winning [the series] in Pretoria. That was the first time in eight times we had won a series on South Africa soil, which is some feat," Brooks said.

Saturday's semi-final would be no different to all that had gone before. The battle would be decided up front.

"A lot of it will depend on how big their motors are and how long it takes to break them down.

"It might not be until the 70th minute or later that the All Blacks pull clear.

"New Zealand will have to push them beyond breaking point if they want to get to the final," Brooke said

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