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JOHANNESBURG - An air of Springboks confidence greeted the All Blacks' arrival here today despite the hosts only just surviving a decent rugby fright from the Wallabies.
"Now for All Blacks," blared the lead sports headline in the Sunday Times newspaper as South African rugby writers lauded their
team's 22-19 win over Australia, courtesy of two late dropped goals from youngster Francois Steyn in Cape Town.
"An epic test match and an epic victory. Lashings of inspiration and buckets of perspiration drove the Springboks to victory," Clinton van der Berg wrote.
It was more of the same in the Sunday Independent.
"Take heart South Africa. This was a test match of tremendous intensity and it took equally impressive character for the Boks to triumph," Mark Keohane wrote.
The 28-man All Blacks squad filed through a crowded arrivals hall at O R Tambo Airport to a smattering of applause, then made the short walk to their hotel where the glowing newspaper reports lay in wait on nearly every coffee table.
At Newlands, the resurgent Wallabies led 19-10 with 30 minutes remaining yesterday but the relentless Springboks again showed how hard it is to topple the current side on home soil.
Australia's win drought in South Africa stretches back to 2000 while the All Blacks have tasted more success, notably a big win in Pretoria last year, but have still lost in each of the past three years -- in Johannesburg in 2004, Cape Town in 2005, and Rustenberg in 2006.
Cape Town was a result the scribes agreed would serve the Springboks well for the rest of the Tri-Nations and the World Cup, where they sit as the All Blacks' main challengers on current form.
"The Springboks can take a lot of heart from coming back from nine points down against one of the top four teams in the world by keeping their composure and sticking to their plan," former Springboks coach Nick Mallett wrote in the Sunday Times.
Flanker Schalk Burger, who was absent last year due to a neck injury, is back and promising to be a big threat this weekend.
Van der Berg labelled Burger the "human wrecking ball", adding the memorable line that he was "all over the Wallabies like a randy octopus".
The All Blacks snuck some glances at their televisions in Auckland before their early wake-up call for the long flight, after beating Canada 64-13.
Assistant coach Steve Hansen noted the ferocious contest at the breakdown and several niggly moments, which are both certain to exist in Durban this weekend.
He pronounced himself happy with the appointment of French referee Alain Rolland.
"The breakdown's a very important part of the game but also one that gets refereed differently from week to week," Hansen said.
"How much you're allowed to counter ruck is governed by the referee, and how much people are allowed to lie over the ball.
"It's going to be a really important part of our game and South Africa's. We want quick ball, they won't want us to get quick ball."
The All Blacks flew to their Durban base today after overnighting in Johannesburg.
- NZPA
