They also know the physical intensity the Boks will bring: the endless physical carnage they will try to inflict and the simplicity yet effectiveness of their game plan.
They've been the team that have held the greatest challenges for New Zealand for many years and playing them in a World Cup will be special, said All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
The two have played a number of epic encounters since the last World Cup, the All Blacks having won six and lost one.
They have all been tough, to-the-death contests with neither team barely able to stand at the end. The Boks take the All Blacks to the edge of their abilities and it will be no different this week.
Maybe, if anything, it will somehow be tougher again. But there are two things about that which the All Blacks will relish.
The first is that the bigger the occasion, the better this All Blacks team responds.
Secondly, while the Boks have the ability to stretch and damage the All Blacks like no other team, they haven't shown the capacity to surprise them. Not once. Not at all. It's this certainty from which the All Blacks will draw their strength and confidence this week.
South Africa have hidden nothing since their loss to Japan. They have openly declared their desire to revert to a traditional South African game of scrummaging, driving mauls, high kicks and a desire to smash anything in sight.
It works for them; has turned them around and allowed them to escape from a dark place. But as much as it has invigorated them, it has also limited them. They have so much power but not so much subtlety.
Will that matter? It hasn't held them back so far.
Perhaps Wales should have done more - capitalised on the opportunity they had to strike a killer blow with 10 minutes remaining.
The All Blacks are different, though.
They have a number of weapons with which to strike back - none more effective than their offloading game.
Against France, the All Black skill level was astonishing and it wasn't confined to the backs. The forwards, including Joe Moody and Charlie Faumuina, made the neatest and smartest of offloads.
There was rugby genius in much of the All Blacks' attacking play, while their defence was as miserly as it had been in the last two pool games.
It was a performance that showed their desire to make history. It was a performance that said they should have no fear about what lies ahead.
Possibly more importantly, it was a performance that gave the Boks a considerable amount to worry about.
Their hand is less stacked. They are bringing just the one trick to Twickenham and everyone not only knows what it is, but that it can also be contained.
"I think in our review and over the next 24 to 48 hours we will reflect and have a wee smile on our faces knowing we performed pretty well tonight," said All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock.
"There were times when guys were carrying the ball really well and making the advantage line and that gave everyone confidence to play their own game."
