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CAPE TOWN - The All Blacks know they will face an examination of their new-found lineout prowess when they meet South Africa in Cape Town on Sunday morning (NZT) in a rugby test that will have a huge bearing on both sides' Tri-Nations title hopes.
Lock Ali Williams said the All Blacks' lineout dominance over Australia in their 39-10 win in Auckland two weeks ago had boosted confidence.
But that was history and the All Blacks had moved on as they prepared for the challenge the Springboks would lay down.
"You always get confidence out of a successful lineout, but you can't dwell on those things and rest on your laurels," he said.
"You have to keep moving on and striving to get better."
In a role reversal at Eden Park, the All Blacks won possession from all but one of their throw-ins, while they forced the Australians to lose a third of theirs.
At Newlands, Williams and fellow lock Brad Thorn will go head-to-head against lineout maestro Victor Matfield and giant apprentice Andries Bekker.
"We all know around the rugby traps that the Springbok lineout is very successful," Williams said.
"A big part of trying to combat that is to make sure we're switched on mentally and we've done our homework."
Bekker, 24, has come in for the injured Bakkies Botha and will be appearing in the eighth test of his debut Springbok season.
One question exercising the minds of South African fans is how much their team will miss Botha's physical edge.
Williams' view was the Springboks probably wouldn't lose too much, saying Bekker would have the added motivation of playing on his home ground.
"We all know what Bakkies can do, but he will bring as much if not more," he said.
"He's a tower of strength in terms of his physical appearance and also his ability around the track. I rate him as a pretty special athlete. He just needs a little bit more time."
The pairing of Bekker, who at 2.08m is the tallest player in Springbok history, and skipper Matfield (2.01m) has a clear height advantage over that of Williams (2.02m) and Thorn (1.95m).
However, Williams didn't believe the difference was significant and, while extra height was a help in a lineout, other factors were also in play, such as the timing of the jump.
Williams, who will make his 54th test appearance when he runs on at Newlands, is having one of the best seasons of his career and he said enjoyment and balance were among reasons for that.
In balance, he meant "not over-enjoying myself off the field, but also on the field doing my homework, doing the basics right and not going outside of my role".
"My role is pretty simple really - you hit rucks and mauls, you run a lineout and you push in the scrum, and when you can you tackle," he said.
"When you try to overcomplicate it, the little head starts playing games and you think you should start doing other things."
Williams, 27, agreed his switch to the Crusaders for Wallaby coach Robbie Deans' last Super rugby campaign was also a factor in his resurgent form.
He had made the move south after a falling-out with then Blues coach David Nucifora.
"It was just the different environment, the different challenge," he said.
"It was good just to play rugby and not deal with the stuff I don't enjoy in terms of rubbish. I'd rather play rugby and have that balance of enjoying myself and enjoying being with all my team-mates and my mates off the field."
- NZPA
