Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick believes New Zealand can use the upcoming Greatest Rivalry series as a springboard towards a successful 2027 Rugby World Cup campaign.

The All Blacks will travel to South Africa in early August for a demanding schedule that includes matches against all four United Rugby Championship teams before four Tests against the Springboks.

The series will feature three matches in South Africa, with two in Johannesburg and one in Cape Town, before the final Test is played in Baltimore on September 12.

Fitzpatrick, who won 92 Test caps for New Zealand and captained the All Blacks 51 times, believes his former team should set their sights firmly on winning the series.

The former hooker said the campaign would provide an important opportunity for New Zealand to build the confidence, depth and consistency required to compete for the Webb Ellis Cup in Australia next year.

Fitzpatrick also highlighted the importance of squad depth, saying the All Blacks would need between 30 and 40 players capable of contributing across four consecutive Saturdays to win the series.

He believes that level of squad management and resilience closely reflects the demands of a World Cup campaign.

For the All Blacks, Fitzpatrick sees the Greatest Rivalry series as more than a major international contest. A successful campaign could provide valuable momentum and serve as an important foundation for New Zealand’s pursuit of World Cup glory in 2027.