Hooker Fulfills Dream: Springboks Bet on Victory against All Blacks

The talented Springboks player, Ethan Hooker, prepares for his debut as a starter against New Zealand in the Rugby Championship. The match represents a golden opportunity for the young athlete, who describes his participation as a “dream come true”. Hooker, who will make his third appearance with the Boks, will seek redemption after the defeat at Eden Park. Head coach Rassie Erasmus has included Hooker in a revamped attacking line. The Sharks player expressed his enthusiasm on the SA Rugby website: “After playing last week and feeling the intensity of the game, I realized the difference between playing in the Vodacom URC and international rugby, so I am very eager to play this weekend.” Hooker also shared his experiences: “I had never been to New Zealand before, so jet lag was something new to me, but I remember waking up early to watch the matches between the teams with my father, so going to Eden Park last week was very special.”

Contents

Springboks Lineup Substitutes:

“Coming to New Zealand and playing here is obviously a dream come true, and I just want to go out there and make the most of the opportunity.”
Ethan Hooker

The current Rugby Championship champions find themselves in a complicated situation after two losses in three matches. They need a victory against the All Blacks to stay in the fight for the title. Erasmus justified the changes in the attacking line: “This is an exciting team, which we believe will provide us with the offensive power we need and spark in the attacking line against a quality team like the All Blacks”. The coach added: “We have largely maintained consistency in selection in recent matches, but in addition to what we believe some of the selected players can add to our attack, we would like to see what some of the players can do against the world’s top-ranked team.” Erasmus concluded: “This is a vital match for our campaign in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, and we believe that some fresh legs and energy is what we need to achieve the desired result.” Hooker also spoke about the pressure of this crucial encounter: “There is definitely nervousness and excitement, especially with the importance of the match in the title race, so it’s a match that must be won.” Hooker continued: “The excitement comes from being on the field and being able to represent your country, and the nerves come from the stage you’re playing on. So it’s important to find the balance between those two on the day, so you don’t get too nervous or excited, and keep a cool head going into the game.” In training, Hooker has received support to control his nerves, especially from the experienced Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende, who guide the rookies in their combinations. Hooker added: “We are privileged to have guys like Jesse and Damian on the team – they have calmed us down a lot.” “We’ve been training with them for a few months and learning from them in the process, which will give us confidence when we go out on the field.” “We definitely won’t play with fear, as some people think. Our goal is to go out and play the best we can, as any other player would.” “The combinations are working very well in training and, in general, the guys don’t feel pressure, which is a positive thing that we can take into this weekend.”