Rugby: Springboks clash on Sunday shades of Ireland 2016, says Sam Cane

All Blacks loose forward Sam Cane has flashbacks of revenge over Ireland two years ago on the eve of Sunday's clash against the Springboks in Pretoria.

The Rugby Championship winners go into the tournament's final game looking to bounce back following the 36-34 defeat to South Africa in Wellington last month.

Cane says it has shades of 2016.

Following an upset 40-29 defeat in Chicago, the All Blacks had to wait a fortnight to face Ireland again, in front of a packed home crowd in Dublin.

"It sort of reminds me of 2016 when we lost to Ireland and then we had to wait to play them again. Except we've had to wait three weeks now," Cane told Radio Sport's Nigel Yalden.

Ofa Tuungafasi, Sam Cane and Ryan Crotty after losing to the Springboks in Wellington. Photo / Photosport

The 59-test veteran is hoping for a similar result than the 21-9 win in Dublin but not the same approach to the game. On that occasion the All Blacks really took it to the Irish, attempting to hit them off the park.

The All Blacks made 100 more tackles than Ireland in the victory, which although produced a 'gutsy' win, Cane says they need to take a smarter approach into Pretoria.

"We went out there and really tried to bash them and we ended up making so many tackles and played the game that way. It was a gutsy win," Cane said.

"What I learned from that is we don't want to go out there and bash them. Use our skillset, some of our game management things we learned and play smart as well as physical."

"The challenge of playing at altitude. That crowd in Pretoria can be particularly vicious and the form that they've been in … massive," Cane added.