KEY POINTS:
The force of the Springbok loose forwards was underlined yesterday when the tourists omitted Ryan Kankowski and Pierre Spies from their opening selection to play the All Blacks in Wellington tomorrow.
Both would charge into an All Black squad but will watch this test from the stands as the Springboks chase a 14th consecutive test win and the All Blacks defend a 29-match unbeaten domestic streak.
When the Bok selectors revealed their side, they chose to go with the Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Joe van Niekerk loose forward troika, a wonderful array of talent with the versatile Luke Watson on the bench.
While many pushed for the exciting Kankowski or Spies off the back of the scrum, new coach Peter de Villiers and his panel have chosen the 28-year-old van Niekerk, who is on another comeback from injury.
"He had a brilliant Super 14, he showed he means business and in his test against Italy he took his chance with both hands," de Villiers explained.
"He is in the spine of the side who will make a great deal of decision-making and we think he can make a great contribution."
Skipper John Smit believes this is a golden chance to crack the decade-long supremacy the All Blacks have held at home against the Boks. The tourists arrive as World Cup champions with most of that group still involved, while the All Blacks have lost a core of their squad.
"We are as motivated as ever to win, we have a burning desire because it has been so long, it puts the fire in your belly," he said.
Asked how his team would respond if the conditions were dire, Smit dryly replied that he had seldom found them to be any different in Wellington. "The weather and the atmosphere will be the same for both teams," he said.
It was never great fun, Burger said, having to compete against Jerry Collins and Richie McCaw. Their absence would bring a change but it would not alter the intensity or intimidation that the All Blacks would bring to defend their home record dating back to the same ground against England in 2003.
De Villiers was strong in his defence of the selection of Adi Jacobs to partner the experienced Jean de Villiers in midfield.
It was a myth to suggest Jacobs' defence was suspect. In the past three games he had made the most telling tackles and the coach was adamant that pattern would continue in the contest with Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith.
Wing Odwa Ndungane was the only player making his Tri-Nations debut, while Smit, with 77 caps and lock Victor Matfield with 70, are pivotal players in an experienced pack.
