van den Berg fulfills childhood dream against All Blacks

“Krappies” was one of two changes made by head coach Rassie Erasmus ahead of the fourth and final Test against New Zealand in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry this past weekend. He repaid his coach’s confidence in his selection, by scoring a try and claiming the Man of the Match award in his first-ever start against the All Blacks. He made cameo appearances off the bench at the DHL Stadium and FNB Stadium.

van den Berg said that although his childhood dream came true, what matters the most was serving the national team.

“In the garden when you’re growing up, you wet the surface scoring a try and you imagine you’re doing it against the All Blacks. So, to be able to actually do it is pretty special.

At the end of the day, it’s just about serving the team. To get points for the team in a crucial moment, that’s what it’s all about,” said van den Berg 

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On his first start against the second-ranked team in the world, van den Berg says the Boks got the better of New Zealand in crucial moments.

“I just think we forced our game onto them. They were unbelievable at times. We had to work hard, but I think in crucial moments we got the better of them.”

The former Hoërskool Linden student also said that the team had to dig deep after the first Test at Ellis Park to claim a 3-1 series win.

“We were one down, so we knew we had to dig deep. As South Africa, we want to be the best rugby nation in the world.”

The Springboks focus will now shift to Australia at Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, 27 September 2026.