All Blacks: NZ braced for Bok fire

Ben Smith scored a try against the Pumas in La Plata. Photo / Getty Images

Unlike the great Australian cricket team of the 1990s and early 2000s, the All Blacks do not habitually have issues with so-called "dead rubber" test matches.

After wrapping up their third consecutive Rugby Championship with the 34-13 win over the Pumas on Sunday, the All Blacks will not lack focus or motivation as they face the Springboks this weekend at Ellis Park.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was quizzed about this as they were leaving Argentina.

"I don't think that mental edge is there because of trophies. It's there because they want to win rugby matches," said Hansen. "This is another that we want to win. They're a proud group and it means a lot.

"We've enjoyed the last few years playing South Africa because they've been great games, and this will be another one. It's a massive challenge going from here to there. It's difficult travel and this team seems to thrive on big challenges.

"I don't think the championship being wrapped up will have anything to do with it, but Benda [Ben Smith] might like to say something. He looks like Weekend at Bernie's if he doesn't say anything."

The right wing, who scored a try and set one up for fullback Israel Dagg, obliged.

"I think playing South Africa in South Africa is one of the biggest challenges and one of the most enjoyable games of the year. To this group, it doesn't matter if a trophy is on the line or not," said Smith.

"It was good to have nice conditions [in La Plata] and Izzy was pretty happy to dot down."

Though the silverware is in the bag, Hansen still has much on his mind, with selection decisions to be made at hooker, perhaps at lock if Brodie Retallick does not come through his concussion, and in the midfield.

The Springboks are improving, having pushed the All Blacks hard, 14-10, in Wellington, just 17 days ago.

Last year the old foes engineered one of the great test matches, the All Blacks roaring home 38-27 after a titanic struggle. That was the final match of the 2013 Championship, and sealed the title. Two weeks later, the All Blacks, having already secured the Bledisloe Cup, beat the Wallabies in Dunedin, the 41-33 scoreline flattering the visitors.

In 2012, as in 2014, they clinched the championship with the win in Argentina, 54-15 on that occasion, but were good enough to back up a week later in Soweto, decisively beating the Boks 32-16. The 18-all draw in the "dead-rubber" Bledisloe a week later was a tired, lacklustre display.

Hansen is expecting nothing less than the usual fire and brimstone, mixed with a touch more open rugby, from the Springboks, the world's No 2 ranked side.

"Just watching that Aussie game, where I guess [South Africa] had to chase the bonus point, they played a pretty expansive game, kept the ball a lot and challenged Australia to make their tackles. It worked for them, because Australia couldn't keep up and ran out of puff in the last five to 10 minutes.

"I would imagine they'll play exactly the same game again. They'll use their big forwards, run in the middle of the park and carry and force us to make tackles, and then try to go wide ... It'll be physical but lung-sapping as well," said Hansen.

And while the All Blacks are still the fittest side, the Springboks are slowly getting up to that level.