And they both have every intention of going to England to play well. The Ellis Park encounter, then, potentially creates the opportunity for psychological point-scoring. Coaches stress that the impact of one test never carries through to the next time the same two teams meet yet often it does.
Ahead of their 2011 semifinal, the All Blacks leaned heavily on the defeat they suffered to the Wallabies just a few weeks before the tournament started. It won't be any different this time: the performance this week and by extension the result, will be reasonably prominent in the thoughts of management and the players should the All Blacks meet the Boks at the World Cup.
That presents a few questions. When the All Blacks played South Africa before the last World Cup, they left most of their senior players at home and fielded a team with individuals that mostly had to prove their World Cup worthiness.
They lost that test, but the Boks couldn't take much from it as they knew they hadn't played the real All Blacks. Could head coach Steve Hansen take a similar approach this time round? Select a side that is competitive without obviously being the top team?
There is this desire after all to see all 41 players in action before the final squad is picked. That's improbable.
More likely is that the All Blacks will start with much of their heavy artillery in Johannesburg. Aaron Smith, Julian Savea, Conrad Smith and Ben Smith are strong candidates to start. Dane Coles and Sam Whitelock should return to the starting pack.
Hansen isn't likely to overthink things or try to be too clever. He knows the value of winning and the confidence that comes with it and also the need for the All Blacks to build rhythm and combinations.
Playing South Africa then back-to-back tests against the Wallabies - the All Blacks need to be wary. They entered the last World Cup on the back of two successive defeats and cited those losses as powerful motivation.
In truth, though, they would rather have come into the World Cup on the back of victories and that's why the bulk of the team is expected to stay intact for the tests against Australia in Sydney and Auckland.
While the desire is there to give everyone a fair crack, the selectors have a firm view on about 26 or 27 players they are going to take to England. They also know what the core of their top side looks like.
Tony Woodcock, Coles, Owen Franks, Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Aaron Smith, Daniel Carter, Julian Savea and Ben Smith are all starters as are two of Sonny Bill Williams, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith.
The specific make-up of the back three is debatable and the bench will be determined on a horses for courses basis.
The two tests against the Wallabies will be a chance to keep the core of the side together while introducing a few new or less experienced faces.
Hansen's preference has been to drip feed new caps so they can play with an established and experienced group around them. He's also been keen on introducing debutantes from the bench - building their game time until he feels they are ready to start.
The likes of James Broadhurst, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Lima Sopoaga may clinch bench spots in one of the tests against the Wallabies.
No doubt there will be interest in using Sam Cane off the bench against the Wallabies - running him in tandem with McCaw to combat the double threat of David Pocock and Michael Hooper.
One of Victor Vito or Liam Messam is likely to start at some stage to give Kaino a breather and Cory Jane, should he come through tonight's game against the Maori unscathed, will no doubt be given a chance in the No 14 jersey in one of the tests against the Wallabies.
Three wins is the desired outcome for the All Blacks. Three wins delivered by what will largely be the top side mixed with a sprinkling of those who need to prove themselves.
