Cruden: Boks still big in Aotearoa

All Black flyhalf Aaron Cruden feels the rivalry between New Zealand and South Africa remains one of the premier events on the calendar.

The Springboks' form this year has been below acceptable levels and their loss to the Wallabies last week has left them at risk of slipping down the International Rugby Board rankings.

However, Cruden - in Part Three of his exclusive interview with rugby365 - said the intensive rivalry between the teams currently ranked No.1 and No.2 on the global stage has not diminished.

* Article continues below the video clip!

"Yes, it is [still] a big rivalry,"Cruden said.

"That is the great things about this competition, the Rugby Championship, every week you get quality opposition to play against."

He said he expected "a few fireworks" to go off when the All Blacks and Boks go head-to-head in Wellington on Saturday, in Round Four of the Championship.

He also felt the Bok forwards will want to atone for their performances so far, having been under pressure in the earlier rounds.

"They are very proud players and a very proud nation,"he told rugby365, adding: "If they get challenged in certain areas, they will be pretty keen to work hard and rectify those.

"I have no doubt the South African forwards will bounce back and when we play them we will have to make sure we are right on that level as well, if not better, to hopefully get a positive result."

By Jan de Koning

* This Aaron Cruden interview was brought to you courtesy of the AIG Rugby Safety Awards, a global campaign to tackle safety in rugby. Find out how you could win safety equipment for your club here: www.aig.com/saferugby

** Stay tuned for the final episode of our exclusive interview with Aaron Cruden - when he talks about flyhalf play, the various flyhalves and their roles in the Rugby Championship.