6 Oct 2012

All Blacks set themselves fresh challenge

7:15 am on 6 October 2012

The All Blacks have set themselves a fresh challenge in Sunday morning's match against South Africa in Soweto, after last week adding the inaugural Rugby Championship title to the World Cup.

The All Blacks did not meet the 2007 champions during their successful World Cup campaign last year and, although they beat the Springboks 21-11 in Dunedin three weeks, errant goalkicking cost the visitors 20 points.

Captain Richie McCaw says their big goal is to be better than they were 12 months ago and even though they've won the Rugby Championship, the big challenge still ahead is playing the Springboks at home, which be a huge test of where the All Blacks are as a team.

Soccer City, the venue for Saturday's match, has a capacity of 94,700 and has hosted just one test, the match between the same two sides two years ago.

One of the great matches in the 91-year rivalry between the two rugby powerhouses was won by a last-minute try by New Zealand fullback Israel Dagg, spoiling Springbok captain John Smit's 100th test.

Springbok captain Jean de Villiers says his team are desperate not to lose the gains of last weekend, when they hammered Australia 31-8 to end a record five-match losing streak against the Wallabies.

De Villiers says they need to step up to another level this weekend.