St Stithians in the Spotlight As All Blacks Arrive Days After Double Tragedy

• The Johannesburg school has become part of the build-up to a huge Ellis Park showdown
• New Zealand arrived at a school still mourning two young members of its community after a tragedy
• The All Blacks are carrying serious momentum into their first Test against the Springboks

St Stithians College has found itself at the centre of an unusual rugby story, with the All Blacks arriving to train at the Johannesburg school just days after it was rocked by the deaths of learner Cameron Waldeck-Cooks and former pupil Ethan Coetzee.

The New Zealand side arrived on Tuesday, 18 August, as the school continues to deal with the aftermath of the double tragedy. Meanwhile, the visitors are preparing for their massive Springboks showdown at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The New Zealand side is preparing for Saturday’s opening Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park. The match kicks off at 17:10 South African time.

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SA Rugby Magazine shared images showing large black tarpaulin sheets around the All Blacks’ training area.

SA Rugby Magazine wrote:

“The paranoia is real! Black tarpaulin sheets are all around All Blacks training at St Stithians College.”

The All Blacks also shared a video of their training session on their official Instagram page, offering supporters a glimpse of their preparations at the Johannesburg school ahead of the highly anticipated Test.

The double tragedy that rocked St Stithians

The training session comes 15 days after Cameron, 17, and Ethan, 19, were found dead at a lodge in Sabie, Mpumalanga, on 3 August.

Police initially opened an inquest. Subsequent post-mortem findings indicated that Cameron might have been strangled, while Ethan was believed to have died by suicide. A murder investigation was subsequently opened.

All Blacks arrive in strong form

New Zealand enter Saturday’s Test unbeaten on their South African tour. They defeated the Stormers 38–21, the Sharks 54–0 and the Bulls 50–19, scoring 142 points across those three matches.

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That form adds another layer to a Test already carrying enormous significance for both teams.

The Springboks are preparing nearby at Johannesburg Stadium, with Ellis Park set to host the first meeting of the four-Test series.

Springboks raise concerns over All Blacks tactics

Briefly News also reported that the Springboks had received feedback from South Africa’s franchises about the All Blacks ahead of their Ellis Park clash.

Assistant coach Felix Jones said several themes emerged from the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls after their recent encounters with New Zealand. Among the concerns were breakdown techniques and maul tactics, with Jones stressing that the Boks want the physical battle to remain within the laws.

Source: Briefly News