The Springboks are prepared for the most physical challenge of their Rugby Championship campaign as they host a New Zealand team out to avenge their shock loss to South Africa in Wellington.
They are aware also of the increased expectation of Boks fans after the 36-34 victory at Westpac Stadium.
“This is a huge game in every sense,” Springboks captain Siya Kolisi said ahead of the team’s last home game of the year.
“We feel it from the supporters, and there’s a huge hype around it.
“For us, this is a massive game because we’re playing against the best team in the world and they would want to come here and rectify matters [from Wellington].”
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has named the strongest All Blacks side available to face the Boks at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, saying at the team announcement on Thursday that “Test matches between the All Blacks and Springboks are always intense and dramatic contests, and we expect this weekend will be no different”.
“There’s an edge about this match-up,” Hansen said, noting also that the team’s could lay down a Rugby World Cup marker given they are both in Pool B in Japan.
“They beat us in the last game, and that’s why there’s an edge now that probably hasn’t been there for a while.”
Kolisi acknowledged that edge, and he said the Springboks would have to match the intensity of their opponents.
But he noted that the Boks had “made sure that we don’t do things differently” in their preparation for the fixture.
“We have prepared in the same way as we did for the match against the Wallabies last week, and for the match against the All Blacks three weeks ago in Wellington.
“We know it’s going to be physical and all of us know we have to match that physical intensity. They’ve spoken about the hurt of losing against us, so we know what’s coming. The All Blacks have a brilliant all-round game and they can score from any scenario so we have to be alert right to the end.”