The Wallabies have limped off to Argentina so it's time for a showdown between the Rugby Championship winners and their arch-rivals in South Africa.
Planet Rugby's Ross Hastie returned to the Highveld - where bombs drop from very high - to give you a view from the inside.
Day 8 - Even the World Champs are still learning
Just in case you were in any doubt, those who know best believe that the Springboks v All Blacks is the biggest contest in world rugby.
Springboks scrum coach Pieter de Villiers told us on Tuesday that he reckons the Kiwis have the best, most consistent, scrum in the game. Later in the day, All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster agreed that the respective rankings of 1 and 2 in the world were a fair reflection of the current situation.
It would be hard to disagree, meaning that Saturday's clash at Soccer City takes on a different dimension to any other fixture on the global calendar.
It's a pleasure to listen De Villiers explain the intricacies of the set-piece and it's clear he holds its place in the game in high esteem. There were only two scrums at Loftus but the Boks are sure to have a much sterner Test on Saturday.
The former French international highlighted how good the Kiwis are at working as a unit, explaining how, with the distance between the packs shorter than ever in the modern game, the 'hit' is growing less important while the necessity to have all eight men 'switched on' and to build up speed over such a short distance and then working as a unit after the initial impact, is crucial. The All Blacks pack have been together for a long time and that consistency in selection means they are able to work in sync.
Interesting as the real PDV was, the hot topic of discussion at both press conferences was, once again, the Springboks kicking: how much of it would they do out of hand and would they be better at it from the tee. (No need to remind you that poor place kicking probably cost SA victory in Dunedin).
With Johan Goosen's heel still bruised, Ruan Pienaar is likely to continue taking place-kicking the responsibilities, despite missing more than half his kicks at goal at Loftus. (Goosen's heel doesn't bother him when he runs, but hurts when he plants it to kick, so he hasn't been practicing). Pat Lambie might yet have a role to play since Zane Kirchner is struggling with a bruised hip.
But will the Boks persist with the bombs that have become the biggest topic of debate for armchair experts countrywide? The All Blacks reckon yes, even if Heyneke Meyer's men are clearly starting to be more adventurous with Goosen at ten.
"I watched the game this weekend and it looks like they want to play some rugby. They want to play some attacking footy and they look pretty sharp at it," said Israel Dagg, the most likely recipient of said aerials attacks.
The All Blacks were simply awesome in La Plata. Foster reckons the difference between struggling to get by the Pumas and home soil only to thrash them a few weeks later was the fact that, at this level, margins for error are so small that making tiny adjustments can make a big difference (sound familiar?) and that the All Blacks are "learning to prepare better as a team."
He added that they also did well to adjust on the field when Argentina found gaps, like that great opening try. Interestingly enough, when the Pumas tried the same move again, it ended up as an intercept score for Cory Jane, so Foster was happy that they were "learning during the game too."
So, the All Blacks are learning all the time, but the evidence suggests that they may have a thing or two to teach their southern hemisphere counterparts on a different front...
Planet Rugby: "Ian, back to the injury situation. The Wallabies have been decimated and the Boks have taken a few knocks so, comparatively, the All Blacks are looking good on that front. You all play the same Super Rugby tournament, so why the difference? Are you doing something differently?
Ian Foster: "Yip. And we're not going to tell you."
Day 7 - When Lions add green to their gold
Day 6 - The truth lies between the lines
Day 5 - Springboks rule at Loftus
Day 4 - When your friend is your enemy and your enemies are friendly
Day 3 - Quade Cooper: The Kevin Pietersen of rugby
Day 2 - Reconciliation at the Casino?
Comments
Zandberg says...
Ross, please tell us in your next postcard exactly what the problem with Goosen's heel is. If it is plantar fasciitis then a steroid injection could sort it out. The Boks need him to be kicking well at the posts...
Posted 23:47 02nd October 2012