Steve Hansen: Don't be seduced by the scoreboard

Don't be seduced by the scoreboards.

It's a simple message from All Blacks coach Steve Hansen as his team prepare to put the icing on another perfect Rugby Championship campaign in Cape Town on Saturday.

The world champions can complete a fourth clean sweep in six editions of the tournament if they beat the Springboks, who have become whipping boys in recent seasons.

Averaging more than six tries and 44 points per game, the All Blacks have seemingly played in a different realm to their southern hemisphere rivals.

Not so, says Hansen, even when assessing the 57-0 trouncing of the South Africans when they met in Albany last month.

That was the best performance of a Rugby Championship campaign which has mixed freakish attacking highlights with some off-colour patches.

"I don't think the scoreboards reflect what's happened in each game," Hansen said.

"We've had to work really hard.

"And this time we're playing a team who will be hurting incredibly after Albany, I'd suggest."

Hansen believes his team's inexperience could yet be exposed at a traditional South African stronghold.

Unavailability and a desire to build towards the next World Cup in some positions has left the ultra-successful coach unveiling his least experienced team to face the Springboks since taking charge in 2012.

Only captain Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock and Dane Coles have played 50 Tests among the forwards while halves Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett are the backline half-centurions.

"All we're trying to do is build people's ability to play Test rugby and to get an understanding of what it's about," Hansen said.

"You can't do that if you keep chopping and changing the team."

The Springboks are looking to avoid back-to-back defeats at Newlands for the first time since 1974.

They have responded to their lineout shortcomings in Albany by introducing Pieter-Steph du Toit at flanker and renowned leaper Lood de Jager at lock.

They must overcome the withdrawal of veteran prop Tendai Mtawarira, potentially weakening their scrum, one of the few impressive facets when they suffered the heaviest loss in their history three weeks ago.

- AAP