Publications
Partners
Durban - All Black coach Steve Hansen says that the Springboks can cause an upset by beating the All Blacks in Durban on Saturday.
Playing the Springboks away, Hansen said, remained the pinnacle for an All Blacks team that has now won 16 straight Test matches.
The record for the most wins in a row currently sits at 17 - shared by New Zealand and South Africa.
"We've got a lot of respect for them and they're a team that we know are capable of beating us and that itself brings your backside from the back of the seat to the front," Hansen said.
"We know that they're a proud nation and they'll be up for it.
"We've got to make sure that we get excited about what we're facing and bring the intensity."
The last four meetings between the sides in South Africa were all played in Johannesburg, with the Boks winning just one of those.
You have to go back to 2009 to find the last time the sides played in Durban, when Morne Steyn scored all the points in a 31-19 win.
"I'm still trying to forget that," Hansen joked.
"It feels different (being in Durban). We're pretty used to playing up there (Johannesburg) now and it feels different from a travel point of view. We've recovered a lot quicker which has been quite nice."
Hansen was also prepared for Steyn.
"We've got to expect a bit of a kicking game," he said.
"He'll play back in the box and move them around the park. They've gone back to a more physical type battle and they'll look to drive their mauls but they're side that can hurt you with ball in hand too."
Hansen added that the record was definitely something that had been on the minds of his players.
"If you try and avoid it, it creates more pressure. So if you do talk about it and embrace it, it becomes a challenge,"he said.
"It's certainly been something that motivates this group. They want to be seen as a great All Black side."
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
