All Blacks captain Kieran Read, during the New Zealand All Blacks team training session held at AMI Stadium, Christchurch. Photo / Brett Phibbs.
After toiling against the Pumas for the first 50 minutes in Hamilton last weekend, the All Blacks are looking for a powerful start against the Springboks at AMI Stadium.
After putting the finishing touches on the team's preparations on a warm afternoon in Christchurch, skipper Kieran Read spoke of wanting
to make a good early impression against a team with plenty to prove after consecutive defeats.
"Our start is pretty important," he said. "We don't really want to be focusing too much on them but if we can get a start in terms of our physicality and intensity in our own play, the scoreboard does funny things to teams.
"If we can get a lead obviously that helps, but we know it will take a big effort against the Boks tomorrow night."
The only change to the starting team which beat Argentina 57-22 at Waikato Stadium is Sam Cane's replacement Ardie Savea, and Read said the 22-year-old had prepared well this week for his first start in a test.
