KEY POINTS:
The All Blacks completed their first full training session in a confident mood yesterday as Springboks coach Jake White insisted Super 14 form gave his side an edge for the Tri-Nations rugby test here on Sunday (NZT).
It was down to business at last for the tourists after two relaxing days, including such activities as golf, shopping and shooting at a rifle range.
On an idyllic winter's day, in the same mid-20C temperatures forecast for the match, the All Blacks squad all came through their session unscathed.
Across town at seaside Umhlanga, White began the pre-test mind games by reminding New Zealanders of their Super 14 teams' struggles to win in South Africa this year.
The Crusaders, against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, were the only side to win on South African soil.
"I'm hoping the fact most of the team have had success against New Zealand sides will play a part," White said.
"It must have an impact because we know what impact it had on us when we were touring overseas and not winning. It was a major thing for us and started to become a concern."
The All Blacks have won just one of their last four tests in South Africa, an impressive 45-26 dispatch at Pretoria's hostile Loftus Versfeld last August.
Then, coach Graham Henry sent an advance party of the starting 15 who were excused the previous Saturday's test.
White noted the difficulty of playing a Saturday test then boarding an early morning long-haul flight.
The All Blacks' trip entailed a bus ride from Hamilton to Auckland, the 18-hour Auckland-Sydney-Johannesburg flight, a night in a Johannesburg hotel then another 70 minutes to Durban the next day.
The Blues and Crusaders both lost their Super 14 semifinals in Durban and Pretoria last month on similar preparation time.
"You can't read too much into the fact they played a weakened French team and Canada," White said of New Zealand's early season tests.
"One thing we're lucky with is that they've really travelled a long way to get here from Hamilton, and we know how difficult that is.
"It's a bit of a bonus for us. That doesn't mean an easier game, but it's the same as if we'd flown to Dunedin."
White confirmed Victor Matfield as captain and made just two changes from the 22-19 win over Australia last weekend, with hooker Gary Botha replacing John Smit and prop Os du Randt replacing Gurthro Steenkamp.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, rested on the bench for the 64-13 win over Canada last weekend, was not too concerned from a Super 14 viewpoint.
"It wasn't a very good stat from a New Zealand point of view, but this team haven't even worried about it.
"It's a one-off test and as an All Blacks team we've struggled to win over here for the last few years as well. We're learning from that and hopefully we're better prepared this time."
Second five-eighths Aaron Mauger, another of the Crusaders who lost their semifinal in Pretoria, said the South African sides had improved vastly in the Super 14 this year.
"They're going to be a bit more settled, but hopefully this formula works for us, just giving the guys a chance to freshen up. We're in good spirits and we ran around pretty well today," Mauger said.
- NZPA
