WELLINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - Defending champions New Zealand have not lost a Tri-Nations match since 2009 and look set to extend their winning streak in the competition to eight tests against a weakened South Africa side this weekend.
The All Blacks warmed up for their title defence with a 60-point romp against Fiji last week and, with Daniel Carter restored to flyhalf, are back to almost full strength to face the Springboks at the Westpac stadium on Saturday night.
Coach Graham Henry has trotted out the usual lines about not underestimating a team from such a proud rugby nation, but the All Blacks should be rubbing their hands at the prospect of taking on a team which lost 39-20 to Australia last week.
The Springboks, by their own admission, have been reduced to selecting virtually anyone who is fit after leaving 21 of their best players in South Africa and being further weakened by injuries this week.
Whether or not the weak touring squad is a ruse to rest the 21 before the home Tri-Nations tests and the defence of the World Cup that follows, it has certainly given a makeshift look to the team.
Coach Peter de Villiers joked last week that he was running out of lock forwards and that state of affairs is reflected in a second row featuring uncapped emergency call-up Gerhard Mostert alongside Alistair Hargreaves, who has won three caps.
Patrick Lambie make his first test start at fullback rather than flyhalf in a team who will be expecting a lot from the experienced halfback pairing of Ruan Pienaar and in particular Morne Steyn, who has suffered from a slump in form recently.
It was an insipid performance from the forwards that set the tone for the humbling by the Wallabies last week, however, and South Africa will be looking for a more physical performance from them this week.
PHYSICAL CHALLENGE
"It's going to be a fierce battle at the breakdown," assistant coach Dick Muir told reporters on Thursday.
"It will be one of those battles on Saturday that determines the outcome of the match.
"Our guys have not got a lot of caps but they have a bright future ahead of them and everyone has to start somewhere. These guys have been thrown in at the deep end and I'm sure they will make the most of the opportunity."
The All Blacks are certainly not a team to shirk a physical challenge either and Adam Thomson, impressive at blindside flanker against Fiji and surprisingly moved to number eight for Saturday, cannot wait for the challenge.
"They're a physical side that you want to test yourself against," he said on Thursday. "As a loose forward you love playing against the Springboks."
Thomson's selection at the back of the scrum was part of a project to develop more versatility among their players for this year's hosting of the World Cup, Henry said.
"I don't think you should take any notice of the number on the back. The players will play a different role defensively and a different role on attack," Henry said.
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