Murray Mexted warns All Blacks of South Africa's rugby intensity
Former All Black Murray Mexted discusses the intense rugby environment in South Africa ahead of the national team's tour. He warns that players unfamiliar with the Republic's fanatical culture may face significant challenges.
Why it matters
Provides cultural and historical context for international sporting events, highlighting the psychological pressures of professional rugby tours.
Former All Black Murray Mexted has a deep affection for South Africa, but he also knows better than most how demanding a tour there can be.
With the All Blacks embarking on their first full tour of South Africa in 30 years, Mexted believes those unfamiliar with the challenges of playing in the Republic are in for a rude awakening.
"They are fanatical, quite different from New Zealand," Mexted told RNZ.
The All Blacks opened their tour with a 38-21 win over the Stormers on Saturday and play their second provincial match against the Sharks in Durban on Wednesday morning.
Durban holds a special place in Mexted's South African memories. He spent two seasons there playing for Natal after first arriving in the country in the mid-1970s as part of his OE.
He was drawn to South Africa because it was "wild and exciting".
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