All Blacks: Coles prepared for 'the most hostile test in rugby'

All Blacks hooker Dane Coles (left) fights with South African flanker Willem Alberts during the Rugby Championship match between All Blacks and South Africa. Photo / Kenny Rodger.

Much is often made of the hostile atmosphere inside Ellis Park but Dane Coles revealed the All Blacks' warm welcome in the Republic often extends outside of the stadium.

Coles remembers well his first test at the home of South African rugby, the blockbusting 2013 Rugby Championship decider that doubled as his 10th appearance in the black jersey.

Despite occurring so early in what's shaping to be a long and illustrious All Blacks career, Coles reckons the occasion will live long in his memory for as much about what occurred off the pitch as on it.

"I remember my first time driving to the stadium and I was like, 'holy hell'," he told media ahead of this weekend's return trip. "There were Africans banging on the bus and giving us the fingers. When I look back it's one test match that definitely stands out.

"It was probably the most physical, the most noise, probably one of the best test matches you could probably ever play, for the All Blacks against the Springboks at Ellis Park."

That test, which saw the All Blacks triumph 38-27 to complete a clean sweep in the Rugby Championship, was followed last year by a similarly dramatic encounter, when a late Pat Lambie penalty stole the game for the Springboks.

If those two clashes are any indication, it would surprise few if another epic chapter is added to the rivalry on Sunday morning (NZT). And Coles suggested the players would have to prepare for such an eventuality, with conditioning, physicality and mental strength all put to the test when playing the Springboks on the high veldt.

"Both tests have taken the teams right to their limits," Coles said. "The 2013 test, there was a picture where everyone was on the ground because it was such a torrid test. You've got to prepare like you're going to play 85 minutes and just empty the tank, because it's a very hard place to play at.

"I only played half a game and I just couldn't breathe. It gets sticky in your mouth and so dry. Just running around and the physicality of it, you feel like you've been run over by a couple of buses at the end of the test match."

The All Blacks' superior conditioning should hold them in good stead if they run into any buses on Sunday, with South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer admitting his side's fitness was found wanting as they let slip a 20-7 halftime lead in last weekend's loss to the Wallabies.

The substitutions of Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira also attracted some blame for the defeat, with the Springboks set piece falling over in the final 20 minutes. And with the front row trio reinstated to face Coles, Owen Franks and Tony Woodcock, the hooker was expecting a stern examination at scrum time.

"They're one of the best front rows you'll ever come up against in world rugby," Coles said. "Bismarck, Jannie and the Beast were back to their old selves [against Australia]. They were pretty dominant for that first 60 minutes of the game and they didn't get the result they probably thought they deserved. So I'm sure they'll want to carry on this week and maybe go one better."