All Blacks coach Steve Hansen sees the Rugby Championship test against South Africa as a chance to lay down an early marker for when the two rugby superpowers clash at next year's World Cup.
The Springboks host the All Blacks in Pretoria in the last game for both in this year's tournament and have also been drawn together in the same group at the World Cup in Japan, where they will meet in Yokohama on Sept. 21 in the opening Pool B game.
Last month South Africa, who have taken some heavy beatings from the New Zealanders in recent years, upset the odds to win 36‑34 at Wellington to breath some excitement back into their rivalry.
Hansen, who coached New Zealand to the 2015 World Cup and a sixth successive Rugby Championship when they won in Argentina last week, suggested the rare defeat at home to the Sringboks could yet be turned into a positive.
The All Blacks face the Springboks in Pretoria at 3.05am on Sunday while the Wallabies meet Argentina at 10am Sunday.
[Source: Radio NZ]
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