All blacks always targeted this week - de Villiers

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is expecting a much improved All Blacks side this weekend. Photo / Getty Images

DURBAN - The All Blacks have always targeted this weekend in Durban as the winnable fixture on their two-test tour of South Africa, according to Springboks coach Peter de Villiers.

Playing at the altitude of Bloemfontein last week after a long flight and limited training time meant the first Tri-Nations fixture was always weighted in favour of the hosts. The All Blacks lost 28-19.

De Villiers said both teams entered the second clash at ABSA Stadium on a more even footing and that was something his All Blacks counterpart Graham Henry would have planned for.

"We expect them to come out guns blazing," De Villiers said today.

"Graham Henry said before he came it's a series for him. Super 14 sides always target a game to win and I think with them it will be this one. They will be a different team."

New Zealand bookmakers agree that the All Blacks have a better chance this week although they eased the odds only marginally from last week when they were clear underdogs.

The All Blacks are now paying $2.50 at the TAB, compared to $2.60 last week, while the South Africans are still firm favourites at $1.50.

De Villiers said his challenge was to get the Springboks to maintain their high standards for another week after a performance that was universally lauded as superior to anything they produced against the British and Irish Lions last month.

Some in the South African media are talking the two tests up as a series, therefore theorising that the Springboks stand on the edge of their first series defeat of New Zealand since 1976.

"No, we don't look at those kind of things," De Villiers said.

"If it comes, it does. To us it's more about concentrating where the team can be and delivering on the day.

"We start at naught this weekend, trying not to read too much into history, looking forward to the game only and trying to put the foot on the accelerator."

The only major selection issue in front of De Villiers is at first five-eighth, where he must either plump for the slicker attacking threat of Ruan Pienaar or the superior goalkicking of the man who replaced at halftime in Bloemfontein, Morne Steyn.

Complicating the matter is that Pienaar is carrying an ankle strain, although team doctor Craig Roberts said the Sharks No 10 should be fit to start.

De Villiers said Pienaar was such an asset that he needed to be managed well.

"Ruan is one of the guys we can build our future around, he is a great creative player, give him some time," the coach said.

"Maybe... we have to manage him much better if we want to play him the next five games in a row."

De Villiers also backed Pienaar as a quality goalkicker, despite his one-from-five record.

"Ruan is a sweet striker of the ball. I don't know what is wrong. He just missed a few.

"If you look at how he missed them, it could easily have gone the other way."

Second five-eighth Jean de Villiers hobbled from the field late in the test but was diagnosed with just cramp.

Centre Adrian Jacobs and lock Andries Bekker weren't involved at Bloemfontein and are unlikely to win selection, even though both have overcome niggles.

- NZPA