COMMENT
Luckily a smile laced the sage coaching face and words which tumbled out of Steve Hansen as he suggested the Springboks were favourites for tonight's test combat with the All Blacks.
Hansen was doing his bit for the promotion of the Cake Tin test and showing the respect he demanded from his players as they all prepared to meet the old enemy.
For generations of New Zealanders who recall rugby before it went professional, the Springboks were the yardstick every team measured themselves against as they brought decades of history which filled the sports pages and drew massive audiences.
That world order has changed for the Boks as South Africa and rugby faces up to the plethora of changing mores and demands in their nation.