The Springboks have touched down in New Zealand in the knowledge that they will face a huge challenge when they meet the All Blacks in the opening Tri-Nations Test in Wellington next Saturday.

The Springboks have not beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand for a decade, and will have to address that record if they are to get off to a good start in this year's Tri-Nations.

In fact, the first two Tri-Nations fixtures see the Boks in battle with the All Blacks, with the second Test taking place at Carisbrook, Dunedin, the home of the Highlanders.

Boks staying grounded

Coach Peter de Villiers and vice-captain Victor Matfield faced a media conference shortly after arriving in Wellington, and told reporters that the Boks would in no way underestimate the threat posed by the All Blacks, despite the loss of their captain Richie McCaw, who suffered a serious ankle injury in the first Test against England.

"You never get a bad All Blacks team. At their worst, they will still be the best in the world," warned Springbok coach De Villiers.

"It's going to be a tough, tough call for anybody to step in there. But as I said, the talent in this country, you've got seven or eight loose forwards you can choose from," he told NZPA.

Bruising Kiwi lock Ali Williams suffered a similar injury to McCaw in the same match, and it is possible that he could also miss the Wellington match against the Boks.

De Villiers reiterated that he felt McCaw and Dan Carter were the main dangermen for the All Blacks, who recently disposed of Ireland and England with some ease.

"They give the direction to the guys playing with them," said De Villiers.

Vice-captain and World Cup winning lock Victor Matfield stressed that it was important for his team to get their set-piece basics right, if they wanted to compete with the home side.

"But again, this is a new set of rules for the lineout, a change from the Super 14. “I think the biggest influence is going to be in the line-outs and mauls, and it's all about how you adapt to that," said Matfield.

Boks there to play rugby

The England rugby team were of course caught up in a media storm after allegations of sexual assault did the rounds in Auckland after the first Test.

But De Villiers laughed off the idea that a similar scenario could befall the Springbok players.

"I don't think we need any protocols in place. We trust them, and believe they are here for the right reasons.

"They are true professionals, and they know how to behave," said the coach. Meanwhile, captain John Smit is only scheduled to join his Bok team-mates in Wellington on Tuesday, only four days before the all-important first Test.

Smit will complete his contractual commitments with his French club side Clermont Auvergne on Saturday, in the French Top 14 Final against Toulouse.

Smit then faces a monster flight out to New Zealand.

The Springbok captain will be fighting jetlag, and will have a very short time in which to ready his charges for the start of their Tri-Nations campaign.

365