Cape Town - The All Blacks will comfortably dispatch the Springboks in Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test in Durban, local bookmakers have predicted.
The world champions will be looking to equal the record for the most consecutive Test wins by a major rugby nation when they run out on the Kings Park turf on Saturday (17:05 kick-off).
Of tier-one Test nations, New Zealand and South Africa currently share the record for most consecutive Tests wins with 17.
And according to Sportingbet.co.za, the Kiwis will have no problem reaching another milestone.
They have predicted a 12-point victory for Steve Hansen’s charges.
With the All Blacks' next Test scheduled against the Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland on October 22, the 18-match record for major Test playing nations is well within sight.
Eden Park is a ground the All Blacks haven’t lost at in 22 years, so a win on Saturday would make them heavy favourites to achieve the record feat.
For those who care, Cyprus officially holds the record with 24 consecutive Test wins - achieved between 2008 and 2014, while Lithuania is another smaller nation with 17 consecutive Test wins (2006-2010).
In their overall rivalry with the Springboks, the All Blacks boast a healthy 54-35 win-loss record, with three draws. But even more alarming for South Africa is that the Kiwis have won 36 and lost only 14 encounters against the Boks since rugby turned professional in 1996.
READ: Boks v All Blacks: What rivalry?
It would take a brave man to bet against the bookies on Saturday...
Teams:
South Africa
15 Pat Lambie, 14 Francois Hougaard, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Jaco Kriel, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Willie le Roux
New Zealand
15 Ben Smith, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Waisake Naholo, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody
Substitutes: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Liam Squire, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 George Moala