Mutual respect between Boks and All Blacks will never wane
While demonstrating a high level of mutual respect between two of the bitterest rivals in world rugby, fact is All Blacks captain Kieran Read and his Springbok adversary Adriaan Strauss are on vastly different courses.
Strauss is leading a Bok team on home soil for the last time intent on turning an otherwise poor season into a mediocre one, while in total contrast, Read and his charges are on a mission to chalk up a record-equalling 17th victory on the trot.
Ironically the record is held by the Boks, who chalked up 17 successive wins in the 1997/1998 seasons.
Despite being on vastly different paths as a team, All Blacks skipper Read says the mutual respect for one another as rugby rivals will never wane.
"We truly respect the Boks when one looks at the history between the two nations. It really doesn't matter who puts on a Springbok jumper, just like an All Blacks one, we know it is always going to be tough," said Read.
"This is still a massive test for us and we are certainly chasing that record, but what better side to face trying to do it than the Boks," the bearded New Zealander added.
As if the two captains had compared notes, Bok skipper Strauss, who will play in his 63rd Test, agreed that there is no better way to measure the progress of the current Bok unit than against the dominant force that the All Blacks are.
"We haven't delved too much on the past, but I certainly know, when we are up for it, we know it will be a very close battle with the All Blacks," noted Strauss.
But for now the fact that Strauss is playing his last game on home soil in the green and gold is furthermost from his mind.
"I tend to take the emotion out of the game. I think when that final whistle blows, then it will hit me."
Read admits that it's never an easy mission in South Africa and anticipates a physical encounter in the Shark Tank, which by his own admission, is a very intimidating place to play.
"I'm not sure what the Boks will come with, but they have shown they can play an attacking brand of rugby and we will have to adapt," he said.
"We have a plan to play a quick game and we know we will have to match them physically."
But whatever the outcome, the Free State farm boy who never dreamed he would one day play for the Boks, let alone captain them, has no plans to go back on his decision to retire from international rugby at the end of the year at the age of just 30.
"I would have liked to hang in there longer, but in the long term, my decision was in the interests of the team," explained Strauss.
But for now, with the All Blacks likely to be in the Boks faces for 80 minutes, Strauss remains process-driven and how he handles the emotion after the battle of Kings Park is over, he'll confront once that final whistle has gone.