All Blacks v Springboks
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 6 September
Eden Park, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Grant Fox's experience of watching the All Blacks play the Springboks as a kid is something he says ignited "a dream inside me" to one day pull on the black jersey. One day out from the two sides meeting again in the most anticipated test match of the year, the former record points scorer and inaugural World Cup winner's memories of the rivalry were strong, rating the Springboks as the All Blacks' "greatest foe", especially considering the experience he had playing against them in 1992.
"Ellis Park, intense," said Fox of the dramatic match that was the Springboks' first since readmission to test rugby after democratic elections had been held in South Africa.
"We'd had a successful run through the provinces with the one test at the end of it all. We had a job to do and were up 27-10 with about 10 minutes to go. So we'd actually done a pretty good job. And then they came roaring back at us, and we won 27-24. I think the final score was. I mean, we were deserving winners, but we could have got pipped at the end of the game."
The match had been hastily arranged during the 1992 season, which also marked 100 years since the formation of the New Zealand Rugby Union (now NZ Rugby) and saw the All Blacks jet off to South Africa after an intense series against the then-world champion Wallabies.
Sean Fitzpatrick's jersey from the 1996 series win over the Springboks. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"South Africa had been an exile for a while. I don't want to re-litigate all, all of that, but they will now back in the fold, and they are our greatest foe. They really are. As a kid growing up, I can remember watching Brian Williams on black and white TV playing in 1970.
"He was my hero…that dream burned inside me…from a little kid, that's what I remember. I wanted to have the opportunity to play against our greatest foe, and we got that in 1992."
Fox spoke at a new exhibition at the All Blacks Experience in Auckland called Jerseys Of Significance, which was funded by former White House advisor Chris Liddell and businessman Rob Morrison. It showcases a number of historically important All Black jerseys, including Jonah Lomu's 1995 World Cup jersey he wore in his iconic semi final performance against England, Richie McCaw's 2015 World Cup final jersey, George Nepia's 1924 Invincibles jersey, a 1905 Originals jersey belonging to Ernie Booth, and Anna Richards' 2002 Black Ferns World Cup winning jersey.
Jonah Lomu's jersey from the 1995 World Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Fox's contribution was his inaugural World Cup winning jersey, a classic All Black strip with a white collar and notably without the tournament branding that adorns team gear these days.
"It's a privilege to have my jersey here and it really didn't belong to me - I just filled it for a period of time. What's been created (at the All Blacks Experience) is something special…it's spine tingling. I;m choking up a bit talking about it now."
The 63-year-old, who these days is happy to have the limelight on professional golfer son Ryan, is proud to say he has one of the most extensive and unique jersey collections in New Zealand rugby.
"I was lucky enough to play for NZ Schools, NZ Universities, NZ Colts, NZ Juniors and the All Blacks. So I've got that whole set of jerseys at home, every one of them. It's a little set I'm very proud of because I'm not sure too many people would have."
Fox is keen for people to come along and see his jersey, along with all the others in the exhibition.
"It's a very special experience and you don't have to love rugby to come here. You just need to come and understand a bit of the history of this country, because we're part of that history."
