KEY POINTS:
All Black loose forward Jerome Kaino is about to fulfil a long-held ambition that was made all the stronger by New Zealand's 1995 rugby World Cup final defeat.
Kaino will play his first test in South Africa on Sunday morning (NZT), along with seven others in the All
Black 22 for the match in Cape Town.
While many younger New Zealanders might look forward to All Black clashes with the Wallabies with greater anticipation, the Aucklander isn't among them.
"For me, South Africa is bigger than Australia, just because of the history and the controversies as well," he said.
"Also the 1995 World Cup final was a game I remember. I was young kid and I didn't enjoy the result. I've always been determined about playing against South Africa."
Kaino's eight tests till now have included the two against the Springboks in Wellington and Dunedin last month, but nothing compared being in Africa with the All Blacks.
He knew how fanatical fans in the republic were from the Super rugby trips he had made with the Blues.
"Having played Super 14 here does help and it's not a case of jumping into the unknown," he said.
"But I've heard from the other boys about how dauting it is to come to Africa in the black jersey, about how African players at home grow another arm and leg. We're certainly expecting them to fire up against us."
Kaino will join backs Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu in the starting 15 who are playing their first test in South Africa.
On the bench, forwards John Afoa, Anthony Boric and Adam Thompson, and first five-eighth Stephen Donald are also first timers.
Kaino was expecting a typically tough physical battle and said the All Blacks were confident they could dominate at the set pieces, the areas of traditional South African strength.
That confidence was born from the way they outscrummed the Springboks in Wellington last month and cleaned out the Wallabies in the lineouts in Auckland two weeks ago.
"We know we can do it, but we have phases in games where we have lapses in concentration," he said.
"If we focus on executing the set pieces as good as we can, we should be good. It's just the mental application the boys need to go into the game with."
For coach Graham Henry, having so many in the side play the first test in South Africa was just a fact of life with so much experience having headed to foreign clubs.
"They're preparing well," he said of those about to get their baptism in South Africa.
"They know the magnitude of the occasion, they know the strength of the opposition and they know the significance of this game in terms of the championship."
- NZPA