DURBAN - The All Blacks are trying to ignore the impact altitude will have on Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby test against South Africa at Pretoria but accept it will influence how the game is played.
Both teams have been preparing under the sun at coastal city Durban this week and will flyto the high veldt a day out from the game, using the usual modern method of a late arrival to reduce the impact of thin air.
Their last test at altitude was in Johannesburg in 2000 when the All Blacks' defence melted in the lung-burning atmosphere, conceding a record number of points in their 40-46 defeat. That was their last loss to the Springboks.
Second five-eighth Aaron Mauger said the New Zealand players found altitude affected them earlier in the game rather than later.
"It's probably harder in the first 10 or 20 minutes adjusting to it," Mauger said.
"Once you get your second wind you're pretty much right for the rest of the game when adrenaline takes over.
"Obviously South Africa know how it is because they're used to it. For us, the first few breaths are pretty hard to suck in but it shouldn't be an issue near the end of the game."
All Blacks coach John Mitchell said playing at altitude was not the hurdle it used to be. The players appreciated not having to spend a week training in the thin atmosphere.
"You tend to last longer in this kind of weather than if you prepare on the high veldt, where you tend to run out of oxygen pretty quickly," Mitchell said.
"And you get a better balance down here in terms of being able to get away from rugby."
And the coach predicted both teams would be loathe to run the ball from inside their own half when so much distance could be gained by punting.
"On the veldt, I would suggest there will be a fair bit of kicking from the Boks coming out of their first 50m. That will dictate a lot of the game.
"Territory, I would suggest, will be a pretty important feature in this game."
