All Blacks: Forging on to Ellis Park cauldron

Set pieces were evenly contested when the All Blacks hosted the Springboks last weekend. Photo / Getty Images

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says the next two tests will define Rugby Championship success, writes Gregor Paul.

Having faced the maelstrom and held up, the All Blacks have an element of confidence about their ability to withstand the inevitable physicality they will face on their two-test trip to Argentina and South Africa.

Many opinions have surfaced in the wake of the Eden Park encounter against South Africa, many of which have settled on the idea that the Boks were in control at the collision and set-piece. The statistics, even when Bismarck du Plessis was on the field, suggest there was no clear winner. There were ebbs and flows, moments of superiority from either side.

If the Springboks had the edge, the All Blacks came off the field not thinking they had and that self belief will be all important as they take on what stacks up as probably the toughest two weeks of their year.

"I wouldn't say they are season-defining,"says All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. " But they will be Rugby Championship defining. We have got our nose in front and if we can play well in Argentina and win that game, even take a bonus point [as well], then it will be advantage us going into that last game, which is really important."

Argentina and South Africa are tough places to win, even allowing for the fact that the All Blacks have never lost to the Pumas.

Adding to the difficulty in Argentina is that the All Blacks have only one fit specialist open side in the mix. Sam Cane will start but Richie McCaw is not expected to be ready to play, leaving probably Liam Messam to act as emergency cover should injury strike. It's a risk the All Blacks are prepared to take, as they want their captain on the field against the Springboks. They feel they can manage the risk against the Pumas, who are unlikely to want to open the game and up the tempo.

With the greatest respect to Argentina, the success of this offshore venture hinges on the result at Ellis Park. As well as the Pumas can scrummage and for all the increased threat they pose with ball in hand, it will be close to a national disaster if the All Blacks don't win in La Plata.

Johannesburg is a different scenario. The All Blacks won't take that same risk with the No 7s. If McCaw isn't fit, Matt Todd will be sent for because New Zealand won't stand a chance if they can't compete for the ball on the ground.

One thing beyond dispute is that South Africa are incredibly good over the ball. Their big men are surprisingly agile and difficult to move in the clean out. Another point of unanimous agreement is that playing the Boks in South Africa is a different business to playing them in New Zealand.

Many good All Black sides have come unstuck at Ellis Park, a cauldron of a venue. The All Blacks haven't won there since 1997and in 13 tests, have won only three.

Adding to their troubles is the certainty that the intimidation factor will be high. Reactions in South Africa and by South Africans to defeat at Eden Park have been hostile. Messam has been the target of some inappropriate social media abuse suggesting he milked the penalty when he was struck by du Plessis' forearm.

And the likely anger and hostility of the crowd will form a component of the All Blacks' planning.

"Most of our young guys will have grown in confidence as a result of the last game," says Hansen, "and that is going to be a major plus. All of them have been to South Africa before, so they will have experience of what it is like touring there. But what we need to be wary of is what it will be like for them walking into a venue like Ellis Park.

"We have to make sure we stay connected and that we get our preparation right. That will be key, getting that preparation right, and the fact that when you have done something before [won back to- back in Argentina and South Africa, as the All Blacks did last year], it does give you some confidence that you can do it again."