AnalysisSpringboksSA Rugby Mag29 Apr

Mulder warns: Don't mistake a wounded All Blacks for a safe bet

Japie Mulder warns that an All Blacks side written off as underdogs could be exactly the kind of opponent that catches the Springboks off guard in this year's rivalry series.

Japie Mulder is sounding a note of caution ahead of the Rugby Championship clashes, arguing that an All Blacks side carrying underdog status could be more dangerous, not less. The concern is that recent Springbok dominance may breed complacency, while New Zealand's backs-against-the-wall mentality has historically been one of their most lethal weapons.

The piece is light on deep tactical analysis but serves as a useful temperature check from a Bok legend on the psychological dimension of the rivalry — a reminder that form tables don't always survive contact with an All Blacks team with something to prove.

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AnalysisSpringboks

Mulder warns: Don't mistake a wounded All Blacks for a safe bet

All Blacks' loosehead crisis hands Springboks a ready-made weapon in Greatest Rivalry Series

Stephen Donald: Robertson copied the Boks — Rennie must go back to All Blacks DNA

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