AUDIO: Kitsie adds spice to Springboks v All Blacks rivalry
Yesterday at 05:20 AM
SPOTLIGHT: Newly retired Springbok legend Steven Kitshoff's honest admission will certainly add fuel to the already heated rivalry between South Africa and New Zealand.
Kitshoff called time on his illustrious career after a serious neck injury he sustained last year during a Currie Cup match.
The 33-year-old concluded his incredible career with 138 caps for the Stormers and 83 Tests for the Springboks, including two World Cups (2019 and 2023) and a British and Irish Lions Series (2021).
The loosehead prop is one the greatest in the business and was the first captain to hoist the United Rugby Championship trophy with the Stormers in 2022.
The second most capped Springbok prop behind Tendai Mtawarira, Kitshoff is the only Bok to have played all seven matches in two successful RWC-winning campaigns – playing all 7 in 2019 and in 2023.
The only other players to have done the same feat are New Zealand's trio Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, and Sonny Bill Williams, who did so during their successful World Cup campaigns in 2011 and 2015.
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Over the years, the Springbok has come face to face with some incredible teams and when asked the opponents he loved facing the most, Kitshoff was quick to point out his 2019 and 2023 World Cup Finals opposition.
"Making my Springbok debut [in 2016] the team looked forward to the most was always the All Blacks.
"I thought facing the Haka would be one of the coolest things and it was pretty impressive but not that great - especially in South Africa where you couldn't really hear them," Kitshoff said with a cheeky smile.
"But after that one of my favourite games was always to play against England at Twickenham. Sometimes it felt like a home and the amount of support we have in the UK is just amazing.
"So between those two counties, they were always up for a fight. Even though England didn't play the best of rugby at the time, they always pitched up for the Springboks."
The Springbok faced England in the 2019 RWC Final in Japan and he was instrumental during the 12-11 Final victory against All Blacks in 2023 in France.
