Hansen confirmed 38 names and this included many from the potent Blues backline.

The Highlanders, despite only winning one match in this year’s Super Rugby competition, have six players in the group.

An obvious area of weakness is at hooker where Hansen has selected veterans Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu and Canes Dane Coles. Options are limited and it certainly is a concern for New Zealanders.

No overseas-based players were considered, as it is NZRFU policy.

Among the uncapped players invited to the training session are: Blues stars Frank Halai, Steven Luatua, Charles Piutau and Francis Saili, Chiefs prop Ben Afeaki, the Hurricanes trio of TJ Perenara, Brad Shields and Jeff Toomaga-Allen, and the Crusaders duo of Dominic Bird and Tom Taylor.

Rene Ranger, another versatile Blues back, is also in the mix.

The champion Chiefs only have six players in the squad while the Hurricanes and Crusaders both have nine. The Blues have eight players and the struggling Highlanders six

All Blacks wider training squad:

Blues: Frank Halai, Steven Luatua, Keven Mealamu, Charles Piutau, Rene Ranger, Francis Saili, Piri Weepu and Ali Williams.

Chiefs: Ben Afeaki, Sam Cane, Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Liam Messam and Brodie Retallick.

Hurricanes: Beauden Barrett, Dane Coles, Ben Franks, TJ Perenara, Julian Savea, Brad Shields, Conrad Smith, Jeff Toomaga-Allen and Victor Vito.

Crusaders: Dominic Bird, Daniel Carter, Wyatt Crockett, Israel Dagg, Owen Franks, Kieran Read, Luke Romano, Tom Taylor and Samuel Whitelock.

Highlanders: Hosea Gear, Andrew Hore, Ma’a Nonu, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith and Tony Woodcock.

Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie confirmed Williams would be in New Zealand to challenge for a World Cup place. What Rennie could not say is whether it will be in 2014 or 2015.

‘He will come back to rugby – when is the big question,’ Rennie told Radio Sport. ‘I think he is almost certain to be here in a World Cup year and he will definitely come back to the Chiefs.

‘Obviously there is a bit of stuff to be sorted. I know he is going great guns for Sydney (Roosters) at the moment so whether he ends up staying another year or whether he comes back to rugby sooner I am not sure.’

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen’s comment that all foreign-based New Zealand players who returned to play in New Zealand would be considered for World Cup, even if they left it to 2015.

The comment seemed reserved exclusively for Williams, as Hansen qualified the comment by saying some were good enough to only return to New Zealand in 2015 and make the World Cup squad and others would risk being overtaken by local based talent.

Williams has made an immediate impact on his return to League and League critics agree he is a better League player because of his five years in Rugby Union.

Kaplan confirmed he will retire at the end of 2013 at which time he will have refereed more than a 1000 matches at every level.

Kaplan steps down after 21 years in the game, officiating more International matches, Super Rugby matches and Currie Cup matches than any other referee.

Kaplan’s records:
· A world record 68 Test matches
· A record 99 Vodacom Super Rugby matches
· A record 150 Absa Currie Cup matches
· Attended four Rugby World Cup tournaments
· Five Absa Currie Cup finals
· Three Vodacom Super Rugby Finals

The above list is set to grow during the year, reaching his century of Super Rugby matches in the first full week of Super Rugby action in Bloemfontein where the Cheetahs host the Sharks.

Only a World Cup final eluded Kaplan, who would have been given the 2007 final in Paris had South Africa not been a finalist.

By Richard Ferguson

It will be South Africa’s first Test at Free State Stadium in three years. They last played in Bloemfontein in September 2010, when the Wallabies beat the hosts 41-39.

The Springboks will then travel to Mendoza on 24 August, where they drew 16-16 against the Pumas.

Heyneke Meyer’s men will also face the Wallabies in Brisbane (7 September) and Cape Town (28 September), and the All Blacks in Auckland (14 September) and Johannesburg (5 October)

THE 2013 RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

17 August: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney
17 August: South Africa v Argentina, Bloemfontein

24 August: New Zealand v Australia, Wellington
24 August: Argentina v South Africa, Mendoza

7 September: Australia v South Africa, Brisbane
7 September: New Zealand v Argentina, Hamilton

14 September: Australia v Argentina, Perth
14 September: New Zealand v South Africa, Auckland

28 September: South Africa v Australia, Cape Town
28 September: Argentina v New Zealand, La Plata

5 October: South Africa v New Zealand, Johannesburg
5 October: Argentina v Australia, Rosario

The Springboks’ attacking method has been widely lamented as being overly pragmatic and bordering on conservative. Their focus on gaining territory through tactical kicking has, however, reaped considerable reward. Their time spent in the opposition’s 22m compares favourably with the All Blacks, the difference being how clinical the world champions have been once there.

On Monday Heyneke Meyer lamented the ‘unacceptable’ return of tries considering their opportunities in what he described as the ‘goal zone’. ‘The top teams in the world get points when they get in there,’ he said. ‘It may be a coaching or inexperience thing, but it has to improve. We get in the right areas and we get clean ball, but we don’t convert.’

I’ve maintained that the the focus of the criticism of the Springboks has been wrong. How they get into the opposition’s 22m has been targeted, but what they do with possession while there is the real problem.

It would be remiss not to note the affect injuries, (particularly among the back division) have had on the team’s attacking potency. There has never been a settled combination, while three different flyhalves have started, with Elton Jantjies coming on as an early replacement at Soccer City.

However, how they resolve this deficiency should be a matter of great concern. They’ve desperately lacked imagination, flair, unpredictability and precision when shifting the ball wide. Van Graan, who is also involved in the attacking play, said they had a vision of a preferable outcome, but stressed that there are prerequisites for them to get there.

‘You don’t get the end result immediately, its a process. As soon as you get into a winning habit, combinations settle and you gain experience as a team, you can start evolving,’ he said. ‘There have been some massive moments in our game development, with Bryan Habana’s try in Soweto being a prime example of where we want to go with our game. But game development is about tweaking the small things and surprising the opposition like that.’

The Springboks have relied heavily on their rolling maul as an attacking weapon. However, denied the territory they covet against Ireland in the first half on Saturday, they looked impotent and rudderless. They recovered well and were able to hurt Ireland with their rolling maul. But Van Graan warned that this facet of play will come under stern examination against Scotland at Murrayfield once more.

‘It is a big part of the our game. Our base is so vital and the tight five work hard to keep that base up. Once it is then they can’t sack you. From there it’s technique and synergy. It’s when we use it and where you use it,’ he said.

‘You also have to show respect to the opposition, most of the northern hemisphere teams stop the maul quite well by blocking off your middle and back options, and give you the front ball. They hit and sack you there. So you have to be clever and perhaps take a risk.’

He also noted the Scots’ focus on stifling the recycle at the breakdown. They succeeded in patches early in the game in this regard against the All Blacks, before the tourists stepped up their tackle fight and consistently got over the gainline to deny them a crack at the contest.

Van Graan continued, extolling their hosts’ other strengths.

‘They’ve shown that once they get into the 22m, it doesn’t matter how good the defence is, they can keep the ball. They did that quite well against the All Blacks. They’ve also got some big runners in the backline and their mauling and lineout is one of their big strengths. We’ll have to be clever in countering that,’ he noted.

The Boks will have to travel to Auckland during next year’s Rugby Championships on 14 September and face the title holders at Eden Park, where South Africa last won in 1937. The All Blacks have beaten the visitors five out of eight times at the venue.

France will also tour New Zealand during the June Test window for a three-match repeat of the 2011 World Cup final. Les Bleus will tackle the world champions in Auckland (8 June), Christchurch (15 June) and New Plymouth (22 June).

The All Blacks host the Wallabies in two of the three Bledisloe Cup Tests. One will be a Rugby Championship fixture in Wellington on 24 August, while the other will be played in Dunedin on 19 October.

The Pumas travel to Hamilton on 7 September.

Mealamu joins Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina as just the third man to make a century of appearances for the Blacks, who are in line for their 17th consecutive win.

There is just one other change from the side that beat the Springboks 32-16 in Soweto, with tighthead prop Charlie Faumuina coming in for Owen Franks who moves to the bench.

‘Kevvy is a hugely respected man, not only in the All Blacks and New Zealand rugby but also in his wider community,’ coach Steve Hansen said. ‘He is a key leader in the team and one of the true gentlemen of New Zealand rugby.’

New Zealand — 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Owen Franks,  18 Luke Romano, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Ben Smith.

The sponsorship deal with the US-based insurance company – which also takes in the NZ Maori, NZ Sevens, Black Ferns, Women’s Sevens and U20 national teams – was confirmed at a press conference in Auckland.

‘This is a great day for New Zealand rugby,’ said NZRU chief executive Steve Tew. ‘This is an exciting new partnership that will further secure the future of rugby at all levels in this country and pave the way for our game to reach new fans around the world. Today’s announcement is a game changer for New Zealand rugby.’

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said the new sponsorship arrangement had his support.

‘It’s really flattering that a company this big has chosen New Zealand rugby to be its cornerstone sponsorship. It shows incredible respect for our traditions, heritage and record of success across all our teams. This will really help make our game stronger right from the community game to the All Blacks so this is great news for rugby.’

The AIG logo on the All Blacks jersey is just under one third the size of the maximum allowed under IRB guidelines.

‘This is not a decision we have taken lightly. Like all New Zealanders we greatly respect the rich and proud heritage of the black jersey, which is why NZRU consulted with senior players and others as we carefully weighed up this latest move,’ Tew said.

The only thing that can save the Springboks now, said a mate of mine, is another 20 years of sporting isolation. Having just watched the match tape for a second time, for professional and not sadistic reasons, my mate may just have a point.

Damn, the Boks took a beating.

This was the most brutal of reality checks and to deny the obvious is to ask for more pain.

The Boks were second best – and by some distance. They have been for some time and there should be no comfort in being the best of those competing for numbers two to five.

The referee did not favour the All Blacks. The referee did not cheat the Boks. The All Blacks did not have an extra man on the field. Statistically all the advantage was South Africa’s, before the start and in the first quarter of the match.

The Boks were at home, playing in front of 85 000 at altitude, and against an opponent who had already claimed the tournament championship and had reached Johannesburg from New Zealand via Buenos Aires.

The assumption – at least mine – was the greater hunger for success had to be that of the Boks. Similarly, when judging the enthusiasm of the two teams.

I wrote before the match that one team wanted to win and the other had to win. I got it wrong in writing the team who had to were the South Africans.

Our boys wanted to win, but were never good enough. Richie McCaw’s men had to win to make another telling statement to those who refuse to acknowledge their achievements.

Clearly, there isn’t such a thing as a meaningless Test for these All Blacks. They set their own standards and they were done no favours by the referee who awarded the All Blacks their first penalty in the 57th minute, by which time they had already scored four tries.

I’ve seen some very talented All Black teams stumble in South Africa because of a high risk and all out attack approach. I’ve also seem some very good New Zealand teams run out of puff as altitude proved as decisive as any home team attitude.

Not in Soweto.

The All Blacks were intelligent in their approach, calculated in when to play for field position and when to trust their defensive patterns and they were ruthless on attack.

These guys played with no risk in the first 20 minutes, preferring to kick the ball back to the Boks and ask them to think. They hardly played any rugby, with the Boks making two tackles and forcing the New Zealanders to make 28.

Yet on 30 minutes the Boks trailed 12-10 and all theory about home ground advantage was secondary to the reality of an on-field beating.

I’ve seen All Black teams batter the Boks in the professional era. I’ve never seen one that appeared so easy and so emphatic as in the last 40 minutes in Soweto.

To claim a few soft moments was the difference is to claim insanity.

I don’t put much store in what coaches and players say after the game. It really is only when they see a recording of the 80 minutes that you get some sense out of them, even though Bok coach Heyneke Meyer will know that no scoreboard could do justice to the one-sided beating in Soweto.

For those of who you may challenge my view go and watch the tape again. Those last 50 minutes especially were torture and the final 10 minutes looked like the winding down of a training session.

There can be no masking the situation and there is also no gain from playing the blame game. Whether it was Johan Goosen, Elton Jantjies or Patrick Lambie at flyhalf would not have made a difference. It would not have made a difference whether the early kicks went over or not. The All Blacks would have come back just those few minutes earlier.

Each week I hear a coach, a captain and a player say a few moments cost them. If they acknowledge the problem is more complex then those few moments will hopefully decrease considerably in the next 12 months.

Questions rightfully have been asked of player performance this season. Meyer has said the season already has answered which players selected were good enough and which were not, but he needs to ask the same questions of his support staff.

How good are they? How good are the defensive structures because players don’t seem to trust each other or trust the system? What is going on with the kickers?

Hard questions have to be asked from within.

There is no need to panic because of the defeat, but I’d start to panic as a supporter if there is denial about the nature of the defeat.

As if the World Cup, Bledisloe Cup, Freedom Cup, and Rugby Championship title were not enough. The All Blacks didn’t just win that Rugby Championship trophy, they didn’t just win six out of six, they once again made a statement about how the game should be played.

It’s seems an obvious thing to say about the All Blacks, but then there is more to this side than what is perceived at a first glance.

They have some of the most gifted attacking players on the planet, but many forget that a team cannot win championships without a balanced approach. If attack was all you needed to be a success, the Lions would be reigning Super Rugby champions.

Before you celebrate the All Blacks as outstanding innovators and finishers, consider how they get themselves into those scoring positions. It is through a great mix of power, intelligence, and a fair bit of trickery that they win the forward battles. It is through sharp decision making that they can switch between kicking for territory and counter-attacking. And don’t underestimate the role experience has played in the All Blacks’ 16-Test winning run.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said earlier this year that experience helped the All Blacks win that 2011 World Cup, and went on to explain that it is experience that boosts a team in areas like defence, kicking, discipline and game management. You can have all the attacking talent in the world, but if you can’t succeed in these other aspects, you aren’t going to win championships.

Take the Rugby Championship finale at Soccer City as an example. The Boks were in fine attacking form early on, and that try from Bryan Habana will go down as one of the best of their season. But as flat as the All Blacks were during the initial stages, they stuck to their defensive task. They absorbed the pressure and then struck back before half-time, and then again after the break.

Meyer praised the world champions afterwards for the way they went about closing out the game. Meyer said Dan Carter was the key man for the visitors, as his decision making and execution during this period allowed the All Blacks to play the game down in opposition territory.

The stats substantiate the statement. According to ruckingoodstats.com, the New Zealanders kicked the ball from hand on 30 occasions (the Boks kicked 23), keeping 11 of those kicks in play. It was the tactics of Carter and company to put the ball behind the Boks and ask them to counter-attack. And when the Boks made mistakes or bad decisions, the All Blacks were quick to pounce.

It was another thing Meyer pointed to: this All Blacks side has made a habit out of punishing opposition errors. Again, the stats suggest that the All Blacks were better off in this department, making just four handling errors to the Boks’ 11. What those stats don’t say is how the All Blacks turned Bok mistakes into point-scoring opportunities.

Defence was an issue for the hosts last Saturday, with the Boks missing 12 tackles. The All Blacks missed 10, but that number needs to be put in perspective, as the visitors spent more time on defence (they had just 43% possession). While the Boks missed one in four tackle attempts, the All Blacks missed one in six.

The goal-kicking has been poor throughout the tournament, and again the Boks missed four of their eight attempts.

All in all, the Boks were guilty of spurning their own chances, and also guilty of providing the opposition with scoring chances. It was like two teams were playing against the Boks last Saturday: that is the All Blacks and the Boks themselves.

The All Blacks were good enough to first claw their way back into the lead, and then punish the South Africans to the tune of 16 points. That’s a hiding.

Meyer says his team has a long way to go, a statement that was later followed by Steve Hansen’s assertion that this All Blacks side can get better. The New Zealanders have won 16 in a row, and having brushed the Boks aside you’d have to expect them to breeze through Europe and overtake Lithuania for the most consecutive Test victories.

The Boks were No 2 in the world on Saturday night, but were overtaken when the Wallabies beat the Pumas in Argentina later on. Nevertheless, the Boks and the Wallabies are in the same boat in that they are nowhere near the All Blacks in terms of balance and experience.

The Boks are playing the right game, but their execution is not where it should be. I agree with Meyer that the forced introduction (because of injuries) of a number of youngsters has left this Bok side light on experience in key positions. That in turn has compromised their consistency as well as their ability to close out tight Tests.

A 16-point defeat at home is never going to be excused or be anything but embarrassing. At the same time, there has to be some perspective about where this young Bok team is in relation to what is (or at least will become after breaking that world record) the best All Blacks side in history.

Follow JC on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter

Meyer has been consistent in his view that he will have a clearer idea about the players he can take forward and those that don’t meet his expectations after the completion of the southern hemisphere showpiece. He has also explained that his opponents, the best in the game, would expose flaws in his tactical philosophy, and that he would make adjustments accordingly.

He would have hoped that process would be less complicated than it now will be, but Meyer has to be decisive in light of his team’s inconsistent showings, which saw them finish 14 points adrift of the All Blacks, and well behind them in all of the most important aspects of their play.

He admitted that dropping Morne Steyn was one of the hardest decisions he has had to make in his short time as coach. But it was the right one in light of the flyhalf’s chronic struggles. His replacement Johan Goosen impressed in short cameos off the bench in Australasia and was good as a starter against Australia at Loftus. But his goalkicking, so good in Super Rugby, lacked accuracy, while his weak tactical kicking game, a deficiency exposed against the All Blacks in Soweto, wouldn’t have filled Meyer with confidence ahead of the northern hemisphere tour. I wouldn’t be surprised if Meyer reverts to Steyn for the three-Test tour, using Goosen as an impact player.

Fourie du Preez is in the closing stages of negotiations with his Japanese club Suntory Goliath which would allow him to be available in the Test windows. This would ease the pressure on whoever Meyer opts for at flyhalf for the year-end tour. Du Preez’s value is unquestionable, and his potential return will also be crucial in building depth in quality in one of the Springboks’ most crucial positions (in the context of their game plan).

Meyer lacks a commanding presence at No 5 lock, with Andries Bekker continuing to struggle for consistency. I wrote after his self-confessed nightmare in Mendoza that there needed to be an investment in him because there just aren’t any better alternatives in South Africa or abroad. I still feel that way. Bekker, however, has to deliver with greater consistency and authority.

There continues to be legitimate questions around Zane Kirchner’s retention, many believing Pat Lambie to be a better long-term alternative. Francois Hougaard, having been deployed as a wing after failing to meet Meyer’s expectations as a Test scrumhalf, has yet to exhibit the form in the position he did for the Bulls between 2009 and 2011. JP Pietersen’s return to fitness will see him take Hougaard’s spot in the starting line-up for the November Tests. There are players with greater utility value available to Meyer as impact options, bringing into question Hougaard’s prospects of making the match 22 (with either Pienaar or Du Preez covering scrumhalf on the wood).

Viewing the Springboks more broadly, Meyer has endured heavy criticism for his perceived attacking conservatism. Their method won’t alter dramatically in the coming years, with Meyer hoping the execution thereof becomes slicker. There are, however, fundamental flaws that need to be addressed, most notably their predictability at the gainline (i.e a lack of variation in terms of runners in support and the angles of those attacks). There also needs to be a greater level of precision and innovation in the opposition’s 22m. The Springboks created numerous scoring opportunities throughout their Rugby Championship campaign, but failed to convert a large percentage of those.

Defensively they were average, with too many of what Meyer deemed ‘soft moments’. This is the bedrock upon which the best teams in the game have built their success and it must be the hallmark of this Springboks side.

There are undoubtedly positives, with a young pack largely fronting well, the emergence of a clutch of gifted rookies and Bryan Habana nearing his best form. Those things stir optimism.

Meyer has said from the outset that the first year would be his toughest. I doubt he expected it to be as testing as it has been. There are mitigating circumstances for him, injuries to key senior players the most notable of those. But his side cannot regress from this point.

The incident occurred during the 20th minute, inside New Zealand’s red zone. Springbok second-rower Bekker was picked up and dumped to the ground, with his legs still in the air.

Referee Alain Rolland believed it was a fair tackle, but on further review of the match footage, the citing commissioner issued All Blacks lock Retallick an off-field yellow card.

Usually you have to wait until the end of a game for the climax, but for the South African fans at Soccer City, the best time to be around was in that period before kickoff, and the 20 minutes thereafter.

The Calabash wasn’t filled to capacity, but then 80 000 people can still make one helluva racket. Picture the majority of that 80 000 screaming the lyrics of Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika and then drowning out the Kapa o Pango, the All Blacks’ special haka reserved for big contests. If you didn’t feel the prickle of gooseflesh in that opening salvo, you must be made out of stone.

And then the Boks played. They clattered into the collisions. They pilfered lineout ball and assaulted the All Blacks’ scrum. They used that set-piece platform to good effect, scoring from a lineout near halfway.

Not many teams score against the All Blacks, and very few do it from first phase. And to go 50m for that five pointer – well it would have to be something special. It certainly was.

From the lineout, the ball flew to Duane Vermeulen who immediately turned his back to the opposition and offloaded to team-mate Francois Louw. Louw then did the same, and the move worked in that the other member of the Bok loose trio, Willem Alberts, was free to hit the gap.

The All Blacks managed to bring Alberts down but not before the big man tossed the ball up for a support player. The All Blacks attempted to intercept this pass, but only succeeded in knocking it further backward and out of reach. Jean de Villiers succeeded in coming through and winning the ball, and then finding the omnipresent Bryan Habana. When the winger rounded the poles, the crowd erupted. It was a thrilling standalone moment.

Johan Goosen had missed two difficult penalty attempts earlier in the half, but he made no mistake with this conversion or his subsequent penalty attempt. The result was a 10-0 advantage for the Boks. Against all expectations, the underdogs had raced to a commanding lead.

But soft moments – a phrase coined by Heyneke Meyer to describe his side’s tendency to lapse – have cost the Boks all season, and it was a series of soft moments that saw the Boks relinquishing this big lead.

The Boks lost concentration in the period before half-time. Bad decisions and unforced errors allowed the All Blacks back into the game, first through a try by Sam Whitelock and then another by Aaron Smith.

Elton Jantjies, on for the injured Goosen, kicked some important goals to keep the Boks in front, but as the two teams headed down the tunnel, you got the sense that the momentum had shifted in the visitors’ favour.

This was confirmed when the All Blacks scored in the first movement of the second half. The kickoff wasn’t claimed and the ball was shifted wide. Kieran Read found space down the right-hand flank and raced 40m before popping the ball to Ma’a Nonu for the try.

The Boks’ defence went from bad to worse. The All Blacks succeeded in stretching them out wide on a number of occasions, and worryingly, the Boks were starting to fall off tackles.

It was an embarrassing moment when the All Blacks cantered in for their fourth try, Conrad Smith scoring from a first-phase move. Having trailed by 10 points at one stage, the All Blacks were now 10 points ahead.

There was no way back for the Boks. Dan Carter, who looked all too mortal at times with some unforced errors of his own, began to find form as the game progressed. He booted a 60m monster of a penalty to extend the lead to 13, and then nailed a drop goal a few moments later to widen the gap to 16.

A 16-point win can’t be called ugly. The All Blacks came to play the Boks on the Highveld, and while they had already secured the Rugby Championship title, they needed to win to keep their dream of breaking the record for most consecutive Test victories alive.

The pressure was on, and when it mattered, they delivered.

The Boks played well in patches, but their effort and precision wasn’t on point in the second stanza.

They will lament the mistakes that led to try-scoring opportunities for the All Blacks, and what amounted to a hiding on the scoreboard will serve as a reminder that while they are rated No 2 in the world, they’re still a long way behind this mighty All Blacks side.

Having watched the Springboks run in six tries against Australia at Loftus, I wrote last week that their defensive showing was far more impressive. I said this because it is the bedrock upon which sustained success against the game’s elite is built.

The Springboks end the Rugby Championship having conceded 10 tries in their six Tests. To put that into context, the Blacks (the best defensive side in the competition) conceded six. The Boks’ defensive effort today was woeful, missing 12 tackles, crucially half of those coming in their own 22m.

For the first try Jaco Taute’s failed touch-finder presented the Blacks with a broken field opportunity, the kind they relish, and they were duly punished. There was criticism of Bryan Habana for the second try, but that criticism should have been of his failure to make the hit, not that he pushed out of line in an attempt to do so. There was a three-man overlap. It was the right decision.

Straight after the restart the Blacks were at it again, Taute this time missing his hit in midfield. The Boks were all at sea for the fourth, made to look like rank amateurs.

If the Boks want to become the force they envision, a start would be that no side should come to South Africa and score four tries. Not even the Blacks.

They can draw confidence that there aren’t terminal flaws in their defensive system. There were soft tries in Dunedin and Perth before this. In this youthful team’s short time together they will have already learned that at this level the margin for error is fine, with victory and defeat potentially resting on a single error. They cannot continue to make these mistakes.

The addition of Francois Louw certainly helped their defensive effort. However, the Springboks didn’t win nearly enough of the gainline battles to amplify Louw’s potency in this area tonight. They started promisingly enough, but a sustained effort is what was required. With elite teams so sophisticated in this discipline, the opportunities created from pressure defence will account for more of their scores than intricately worked moves will.

On attack it was a frustratingly familiar story. There were once again missed opportunities, but not enough to have altered the result.

The Blacks out-thought, out-muscled and out-mongrelled them at the breakdown, never allowing them to get any flow or tempo into their attacking game. The legality of some of those ruck steals or recycle slows was questionable, but Test rugby is often a street fight, and today the Boks brought a plastic baton.

Their brute force in contact will win some games against weaker opponents than the Blacks in the years ahead, but there needs to be a greater coaching focus on intelligence going into the contact area and awareness when in the tackle. This was the standout feature of the Blacks’ attacking play this evening. Where the Boks’ carriers look to steamroll their way through a tackle, the Blacks attack the space either side of a defender so well, allowing them to free their hands and have the option of an offload. The support play for that option is never lacking, and herein lies a valuable lesson for the Boks.

The Blacks are the benchmark for this Bok team and this evening they looked impostors to their throne. The log reflects a 14-point different between the teams, but the gap is much more vast and will continue to grow if the Boks don’t address pressing issues with great urgency.

Follow Ryan on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter

This was the Pumas’ last chance to secure victory in the Rugby Championship.

Many believed that this encounter was their best chance to do so as they faced a weakened and wounded Wallabies outfit … one low on confidence after a demoralising defeat against the Springboks in Pretoria last weekend.

However, Argentina were central in their own downfall as they delivered their poorest overall performance of the season.

They lacked the intensity and urgency shown in their previous Tests. Their attacking play was uninspiring, and their errant defence cost them any chance of victory against Australia, who didn’t fare much better.

This will be remembered as the worst Test of the tournament.

Fullback Mike Harris played a telling role for the visitors as he kicked 20 points to secure the win.

Most of those points came in the first half, which proved to be a kicking contest between the two teams. Argentina were guilty of poor discipline throughout the opening 40, which saw Harris kick five penalties to build Australia a comfortable buffer.

Referee Craig Joubert lost his patience with the hosts by the 25th minute, and veteran lock Patricio Albacete was sent to the sin bin moments after his team received a final warning moments before.

The Pumas remained within reach as flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez kicked three penalties. The Wallabies led 15-9 at the break.

Wing Digby Ioane then landed the killer blow in the 65th minute.

After a third quarter which saw substandard play from both sides, a smart backline move set up Ioane’s rush through a big gap in the Argentine guard for an easy rush to the whitewash. Harris converted, and went on to kick his sixth three-pointer soon thereafter.

The Wallabies were reduced to 14 men in the 74th minute as reserve scrumhalf Brett Sheehan was yellow carded after spending 60 seconds on the park.

The Pumas then secured a lifeline at the death as replacement wing Juan Imhoff powered over, which reduced the deficit to six.

But Argentina failed in their pursuit for what would’ve been a match-winning try in the final movement of general play. They lost the ball after a couple phases, to the relief of under-fire Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

The Pumas will have to wait until 2013 to achieve their first Rugby Championship victory. However, they proved to be worthy contenders during their first tournament run against the giants of union, and could likely end up winners sometime during the next campaign if they can continue their rapid rise and learn from this year’s lessons.

Here’s hoping the outing in Rosario was a once-off disappointment.

The Boks got close in Dunedin if you remember that 21 points went begging due to wayward goal-kicking. They were in Saturday’s match at Soccer City at half-time, and even enjoyed a 16-12 lead, until the All Blacks scored 20 unanswered points.

Meyer lamented the ‘soft moments’ that contributed to the Boks’ defeat, but was also quick to point out that this is a special All Blacks side. In Meyer’s opinion, the gap between the sides ranked No 1 and 2 in the world is bigger than most believe.

‘They were excellent tonight, they took their opportunities and once they got ahead, they began to control the game,’ said Meyer. ‘They were the much better team.

‘I thought Dan Carter was superb. He showed his experience by kicking in behind us and forcing us to counter-attack. And that led to errors, which they punished.

‘I think that’s the big difference between them and any other side in the world. If you give them half a chance, they take it.’

The Boks have finished the Rugby Championship with a record of two wins, one draw, and three losses. Nevertheless, Meyer has lifted the team from No 4 to No 2 in the world.

Meyer also feels that the team has progressed in spite of the spate of injuries and absence of many first-choice players.

‘We will never be happy with a loss, we have high standards, but we have to be realistic. There are six guys in the team who are 20 or 21 years old. We had two No 10s who haven’t played a lot of Tests, and they were up against Carter today. I believe they will be better for that experience.

‘We have a long way to go. I’m happy that we’ve gone from No 4 in the world to No 2, but there is a big difference between No 1 and No 2. If you look at where the All Blacks are, there is so much experience that even if they play badly, one or two guys can still pull them through.

‘It’s going to take a special team to beat them. Someone will need to catch them on an off-day. We thought we did in Dunedin, but then we didn’t capitalise on our opportunities.

‘Today wasn’t good enough, but I really believe there are some future greats in this team. The group believes in me and where we are going as a team.’

As dire as the injury situation is, Meyer may have even fewer players at his disposal for the end-of-year tour.

The Boks will return to their provinces for the Currie Cup next week, and the Bok coach is worried that even more of his charges will succumb to injury.

‘I can’t say that I will blood youngsters on the end-of-year tour, because there really aren’t any more youngsters left to blood,’ he said. ‘The players will go back to the Currie Cup now and that makes it difficult to plan because I don’t know who is going to be available for that tour.’

By Jon Cardinelli, in Johannesburg

The All Blacks have now won 16 consecutive Tests and should break the world record of 18 on their end-of-year tour. They won all six of their matches in the Rugby Championship, adding the southern-hemisphere trophy to the World Cup they won last year. Hansen, though, doesn’t think they’ve reached their peak.

‘We haven’t got ourselves nailed yet but we’re getting better,’ he said. ‘We know we have some very talented players, but so have lot of other teams. The difference between us and them is that we are perhaps getting our preparation right during the week and ensuring that our players have the best chance to perform on the Saturday.’

Hansen said it had been difficult to travel from New Zealand to Argentina and then to South Africa, but that they had managed the players’ workloads carefully.

‘We went to a second time zone, so sleep was an issue this week, but we trained smart.’

Meanwhile, Richie McCaw lauded his side’s mental strength at Soccer City.

‘We had the Rugby Championship trophy sewn up last week, but the guys understood the challenge of coming to South Africa and the need to back it up. There are a few guys in our squad who have been around a while and they ensured that we kept our edge.

‘We’re reasonably fit and pride ourselves on playing for 80 minutes. Our fuel tanks probably weren’t 100% full coming into this game, so it came down to mental desire, the ability to keep getting up. It was a battle of wills today, and we got momentum that kept us going.’

The All Blacks captain has now won 100 of his 112 Tests, a record which Hansen called ‘pretty spectacular’.

‘It is pretty special,’ said McCaw, ‘but you’ve got to be part of a pretty special team to be able to do that.’

By Simon Borchardt, at Soccer City

FULL TIME: SPRINGBOKS 16 ALL BLACKS 32

80 mins: All Blacks get a penalty as the clocks ticks over the 80th minute. Replacement flyhalf Aaron Cruden steps up to kick some extra points, but he misses the penalty. Rolland blows the final whistle. ALL BLACKS WIN 32-16!

76 mins: All Blacks easing to victory. Forcing South Africa to play from their own territory. Poor kicks not aiding the hosts.

72 mins: ALL BLACK PENALTY! The All Blacks suffocating the Springboks, even with 14 men during this final quarter. Carter then punishes the hosts with his first penalty of the match. ALL BLACKS LEAD 32-16!

68 mins: Springboks on the front foot in the Kiwi red zone. However, South Africa lose the ball forward, 5m out from the tryline.

66 mins: YELLOW CARD! Dagg gets sin binned as the All Blacks give away another penalty. Rolland reminds the fullback that his team was on a warning.

64 mins: ALL BLACK DROP GOAL! Carter finds space and time at first receiver, and decides to pot an easy three-pointer. ALL BLACKS LEAD 29-16!

59 mins: Springbok attack gets going from the lineout, and they’re 5m out. However, a quick pass from Jantjies pops out from Habana’s grasps and the All Blacks escape.

58 mins: Springboks get a kickable penalty, but De Villiers orders the side to look for the try and they kick for touch.

56 mins: Springboks concede a penalty on the halfway mark. Carter has the chance to build on to this comfortable lead, but he pulls his effort.

54 mins: ALL BLACK TRY! From an 8m scrum, a smart backline move puts outside centre Conrad Smith through for a great try. Carter kicks the extras. ALL BLACKS LEAD 26-16!

52 mins: GREAT RUN! Gear showing his strength as ball carrier, bumping off three tackles as he rushes into the Springbok red zone.

49 mins: Jantjies misses his next goal attempt as it hits the post. Missing crucial points here.

48 mins: Rolland hands Richie McCaw and his All Blacks an official warning for poor discipline. This after New Zealand give away their ninth penalty away.

47 mins: Jantjies gets another shot at goal, kicks it flat, but misses.

46 mins: GREAT STEAL! Louw showing his quality in the Springbok No 6 jersey. He’s clearly made a difference since joining the team. Gives South Africa another kickable penalty.

41 mins: ALL BLACKS TRY! New Zealand score immediately. An offload from Dagg puts No 8 Kieran Read into space, and he’s tackled short. But he pops the ball up to Nonu, who dots down easily. Carter converts. ALL BLACKS LEAD 19-16!

41 mins: Carter gets things on the way again with a high kick-off, and lock Brodie Retalick steals possession. And from the resulting breakdown, the All Blacks are looking dangerous.

HALF-TIME: SPRINGBOKS 16 ALL BLACKS 12

40 mins: SPRINGBOK PENALTY! All Blacks concede another penalty as they crumble at scrum in centre field. Jantjies slots it, which is the final move of the half. SPRINGBOKS LEAD 16-12!

36 mins: SPRINGBOK PENALTY! Doesn’t take long for Jantjies to perform his duties as the All Blacks concede a penalty with inside centre Ma’a Nonu caught offside. The Lions flyhalf lines up and slots his first points in Test rugby. SPRINGBOKS LEAD 13-12!

34 mins: Goosen limps off early, and Elton Jantjies comes on for an early run-on off the bench.

33 mins: ALL BLACK TRY! Habana’s eye for the intercept allows the visitors to have an extra man out wide on attack. Fullback Zane Kirchner is drawn in, and wing Hosea Gear shades him on his inside and puts scrumhalf Aaron Smith through for the try. Carter converts. ALL BLACKS LEAD 12-10!

30 mins: Goosen struggling with a knee injury, and limping badly. Elton Jantjies warms up on the sidelines.

28 mins: All Blacks showing some good confidence. Whitelock beats lock Andries Bekker to the ball in the lineouts off a Springbok throw.

27 mins: ALL BLACKS TRY! From the counter-attack, New Zealand expose the space out side and lock Sam Whitelock bashes over. Flyhalf Dan carter misses the conversion. SPRINGBOKS LEAD 10-5!

25 mins: FANTASTIC COUNTER RUCK! The All Blacks burst into the Springbok 22m area after collecting a spilled ball inside their own red zone. Loosehead prop Beast Mtawarira and wing Francois Hougaard drive over the ball, and Boks get it back. Outside centre Jaco Taute clears, but it’s not out.

23 mins: Springboks commanding play in this match so far. All Blacks starved of possession.

21 mins: SPRINGBOK PENALTY! Goosen kicks over an easy penalty to stretch South Africa’s lead. SPRINGBOKS LEAD 10-0!

20 mins: Great attacking pressure from the Springboks. Doing very well against a strong All Blacks defence. Again, Rolland finds an offence in the visitors’ guard – this time, offside.

12 mins: SPRINGBOK TRY! From a set-piece from a midfield lineout, the Springboks force gaps into the All Blacks defence with clever interplay. While the ball looked like it went forward from flank Francois Louw, referee said it went back off a defender’s hand. Captain Jean de Villiers gathers the loose ball, and puts wing Bryan Habana into space. Goosen converts the easy extras. SPRINGBOKS LEAD 7-0!

8 mins: The All Blacks have been penalised twice at the lineouts so far.

5 mins: All Blacks contesting well on defence, but concede another penalty. This time, from a midfield scrum as flank Liam Messam tries to poach possession from the side. Goosen steps up again … and this time his effort hits the post. Things not going the kid’s way this afternoon.

3 mins: Goosen misses the 40m effort.

2 mins: Great defensive effort from the All Blacks, driving the Springboks back on attack. However, the concede a kickable penalty as the forwards drive through the breakdowns from the side. Goosen gets an early pop at goal.

KICK-OFF: Springbok flyhalf Johan Goosen starts the match with a deep kick-off. All Blacks take it in neatly, and fullback Israel Dagg clears the ball. Not much distance though.

Springboks – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermuelen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Marcel Coetzee, 20 Elton Jantjies, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Pat Lambie.

All Blacks – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Tamati Ellison.

Heyneke Meyer’s Boks showed the capacity to use the ball against the Wallabies, just as they did at times against England earlier in the season. There is no need to try and match the All Blacks to appease neutrals who like to see all out attack.

To beat the All Blacks will take greater discipline and won’t be as easy on the eye for those who believe that the game should only be played one way.

The appeal of rugby union is that every team has a different style. Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones once joked to the Bok players (when he worked with them during the 2007 World Cup) that if Australia had South Africa’s forwards and Fourie du Preez at scrumhalf the flyhalf would be lucky to get the ball.

South Africa’s strength has always been when the forwards, collectively, produce a pressured 80-minute display that suffocates the opposition attack. The opposition always talks up South Africa’s physicality and often it has only undermined the Bok performance on the day as individuals have erred with brutish ill-discipline.

The All Blacks traditionally have always had to fight hardest against the Boks and England for victories – and it is because both England and South Africa more often than not have had the advantage up front in size and muscle.

New Zealand, over a century, have always countered this disadvantage with the most incredible attitude in the collisions and in the tackle. Great All Black teams have always shown dominance in defence and it has been as potent weapon as their natural ability to counter attack or score the most spectacular tries.

The All Blacks, in Port Elizabeth a year ago and again in Dunedin, have tried to up the tempo of the game from the outset and played high risk rugby regardless of field position. It has suited the Boks because South Africa, especially at home and in the first quarter of a Test, are most comfortable when asked to make tackles than to use the ball on attack.

Those who seek a playing style similar to the All Blacks won’t like it but playing the percentages is the most intelligent approach South Africa can adopt.

The All Blacks rely on quick phase ball and on quality ball from lineouts and when the Boks have enjoyed success against New Zealand is when there has been enough disruption to ensure a lack of fluency.

The All Blacks battled with the Pumas’ physicality in the 21-5 win in Wellington. The weather contributed to the struggle, but the Pumas got it wrong in trying to play an expansive style against the All Blacks a week ago. The Boks will get similarly punished if they are lured into a match in which the All Blacks are allowed to settle early.

The Boks can win at home and whatever the Kiwis may say the desperation for victory will be greater for the home team. The All Blacks have already won the Rugby Championship, they are mentally exhausted from the strain of having to win the World Cup at home and their tight five is the most vulnerable unit in what is a very good outfit.

The locks are young, the front row has looked tired and laboured and Jerome Kaino, as an imposing blindside flank, has not been replaced. Liam Messan is a good player but he does not possess the Test qualities of Kaino.

The All Blacks are the best team in the world and consistently have been since the game turned professional. But like any team they can be beaten and they usually lose one match a season. They won’t lose on the end-of-year northern hemisphere tour, so the customary defeat (which gives the rest of the world hope) must come in Soweto.

Richie McCaw, in his 112th Test, will be aiming for an unprecedented 100th Test victory. The statistic is incredible, given he has played the Boks and Wallabies 45 times home and away. McCaw is colossal to the All Blacks and he was the difference between the sides in Dunedin.

But the Bok pack must believe they are stronger and equipped to negate their All Black opponents. They also have to be disciplined.

Meyer has made no secret about his approach as coach. It will be Bulls-like rugby at home against the Crusaders, and it is a recipe that has mostly been successful.

This does not mean it has to be one-dimensional or boring. There is skill in mauling, there is skill in controlling the ball with the forwards and their is skill in a kicking game that is accurate and in which the chasers turn even average kicks into good ones.

The global game needs the Boks to win on Saturday, just to keep it interesting for a bit.

My heart says Boks by six or seven points. And my mind says the same. The only proviso is they maintain their discipline, retain 15 on the field and dominate the All Blacks tight five.

Victory certainly must not add to the illusion that the Boks are better than the All Blacks. They aren’t because they haven’t had the consistency or success on the road of the men in black.

See Saturday for what it is – a match the Boks must win and one the All Blacks would like to win.

Meyer, in victory, will have a foundation to take into the end-of-year tour and next year’s Rugby Championship.

The All Blacks were brilliant in victory at the same venue two yeas ago. They silenced 94 000 with a stunning last five minutes.

The quality of the All Blacks is to be admired and applauded but if there is one team that can make them look ordinary for 80 minutes a year it is an imposing Bok team.

It has happened way too little since 1992. The Boks, on Saturday, need a new story against the All Blacks, but they don’t need a new style of play.

Victory won’t make the Boks the best team in the world but it takes them a bit closer to the goal of being the best team in the world.

This match-up has long been viewed as the ultimate, whether you’re a Saffa or a Kiwi, and it’s because neither side will be lacking for motivation that we can expect the traditional grunt and intensity at the Calabash.

While the All Blacks have already won the Rugby Championship, De Villiers feels the Boks are still under a lot of pressure to win this Saturday and take some momentum into the end-of-year tour to Europe.

This begs the question why coach Heyneke Meyer would throw a 20-year-old into the mix in such an intense and testing game, but De Villiers feels the time is right, and that Goosen is ready for the responsibility.

‘Can he handle the pressure? I can tell you that not a lot bothers the Goose,’ said De Villiers. ‘He just gets on with the job. And the bigger the event, the bigger the response.

‘He has a great head on his shoulders, he will be able to handle the pressure. But then it also has to be a case of the other 14 players taking as much of the pressure off him as we can.’

Goosen brought some direction and innovation to the Bok attack last week, but was helped in large part by a dominant pack of forwards. He will need a similarly powerful showing by his heavies this Saturday if the Boks are going to cut that All Blacks defence.

He struggled with his goal-kicking at Loftus Versfeld (zero from two attempts), and the management revealed afterwards that he was battling with a heel injury. He has since recovered from the ailment and will resume the goal-kicking duties this Saturday.

It is an aspect of the game that South Africa will need to improve in if they hope to edge the world champions. They have struggled for consistency this year, and the worst showing of the season was in Dunedin where wayward kicking cost them 21 points.

‘We lost to the All Blacks in Dunedin by 10, and our kicking for goal wasn’t up to task,’ said De Villiers. ‘You can say we were close to beating the All Blacks, but we lost by 10. They were the better side because they took their chances. It’s very important that we take our chances this Saturday.

‘I’m very confident in Johan’s ability. He kicked for the first time this week on Wednesday and it went very well.’

De Villiers added that the Boks are under illusions that they are the finished product. The All Blacks will come to Soweto having won 15 Tests in a row, and as holders of the World Cup, the Bledisloe Cup, and the Freedom Cup. There’s no doubt of who will wear the tag of underdog in this fixture. It would be an upset if the Boks managed to prevail.

‘We will need to take our game to the next level,’ De Villiers said. ‘That game against the Aussies, it was just one of those games where they suffered injury after injury. So we have to look at it in perspective: we’re not suddenly a great team after winning that one game, there are a lot of improvements to be made.

‘I do think we have made progress and it’s important that we continue to improve this week. Unfortunately or fortunately in South Africa improvements are judged by the results. So we will have to get a good one to carry us through to the end of the year.’

A win for New Zealand, however, would spell trouble for top rugby nations like South Africa and Australia.

Lowly Lithuania hold the record for most consecutive Test wins (18), while the All Blacks and Boks are tied for 17 wins on the trot. If the Boks don’t stop the All Blacks in Soweto, it’s likely that the Kiwis will smash the record and go on to post something formidable.

‘It’s scares the living daylights out of me, thinking of how far they can go,’ said De Villiers. ‘It’s possible that if they beat us on Saturday they may go on to win all of their games on the end-of-year-tour and eventually set the record at 23 Tests or something like that.’

By Jon Cardinelli, in Johannesburg