All Blacks left wing Julian Savea is relishing the prospect of taking on the Boks in Saturday's Test in Dunedin.
Earlier this year, Savea set the Super Rugby scene alight but since announcing himself on the international stage with a hat-trick of tries on debut against Ireland in Auckland, he was poor in the second Test of that series in Christchurch and subsequently dropped when the All Blacks thrashed Ireland in the third Test in Hamilton.
Hosea Gear was then preferred to him for the number eleven jersey in the opening Rugby Championship matches against Australia but he scored a try when he was recalled to the All Blacks' run-on side against the Pumas last week.
Savea is keen to get stuck into the Boks and ready to prove he belongs in the All Blacks' XV.
"I am really excited to play against the Springboks, I've never played against them before," Savea told Fairfax Media.
"From watching them on TV in the past, it seems like it will be a really hard test and we'll see how it goes.
"It looks like it's going to be really intense and physical."
The 22-year-old flyer scored a try when playing for the Hurricanes in their 26-20 win over the Highlanders under the roof at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.
It's an experience which he believes will help him on Saturday.
"It echoes in the stadium and it's hard to hear what we're saying in the back three," he said.
"So we've got to work hard to communicate well and let each other know what's on.
"The surface is pretty firm. So whether it's rainy or sunny, it is going to be good conditions."
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