South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer says his side will have to be at their best to beat New Zealand in Saturday’s Rugby Championship decider and cannot rely on home advantage.
The two teams go head-to-head at Ellis Park, with the Springboks needing a four-try win and they also need to stop the All Blacks from picking up a bonus point if they are to pip them to the title.
The All Blacks may be going well since Steve Hansen took charge and have lost just once under his leadership, but their record at Ellis Park is not the greatest.
The Boks have won eight of the past 11 meetings there, including the 1995 World Cup final, but Meyer knows they cannot rely on home advantage alone if they are to win.
“Ellis Park is not going to do it for us,” he said. “The crowd is not going to do it for us, although it’s a huge, huge help.”
New Zealand have been boosted by the news captain Richie McCaw and prop Charlie Faumuina have been given the nod to play and they are fired up for the clash after beating Argentina last time out.
“In the sheds after the (last) game there was a sense that the boys are pretty excited for this challenge,” said fly-half Aaron Cruden.
“We know it’s going to be a massive one, the Springboks at Ellis Park. Yeah, there’s been a bit of talk about it.”
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