KEY POINTS:
Senior All Black lock Ali Williams is convinced he will complete a full training session today to confirm his 50th test appearance on Saturday against the Springboks.
Williams will have to push through the pain barrier of a damaged ankle but is in no mood to miss this initial crack at the World Cup champions and their powerhouse pack.
Confirmation about Williams' appearance will bring up his personal milestone after a 2002 debut against England and boost morale in a rejigged pack.
"The fact that people say it will be one of the biggest challenges for the All Blacks to date, I reckon that is great," the lock said yesterday. "These guys will be a bigger challenge than England, they are not the world champs for nothing so I am really keen to play.
"It is looking good, I just have to get through the pain barrier during a full training run and see how it reacts."
Williams began his All Black career with a trip to Europe in 2002 when 21 of the test side were left at home to convalesce and recover for the following World Cup year.
The lock then had to overcome a serious foot injury to make the world tournament where he was one of the better All Blacks. His temperament and injuries like his broken jaw last season have bitten into his test career but he is now the senior lock in the side by some distance.
He is also someone by his own admission who thrives the higher the level of rugby and the greater the challenge. That ambition is driving him to beat the injury he suffered 10 days ago in the second test against England.
Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has described this weekend's start to the Tri-Nations as the real world championship. That flatters the All Blacks, who left last year's event at the quarter-finals while the Boks rolled through to their second title.
It is more a case of bragging rights, with the Boks on an unbeaten roll since they lost to the All Blacks last year in Christchurch while the All Blacks hold an unbeaten domestic record of 29 tests since they lost in 2003 to England.
Mallett believes the senior Springboks hold the key to this weekend's result and how the side performs in Dunedin in the second stage next weekend. He picks out the contribution of skipper John Smit as being absolutely crucial to the Boks' results.
Apparently Smit was the glue in the side for the momentum when new coach Peter de Villiers took over this season. His steadiness, his mana, his skill - they were all factors which de Villiers and Mallett noted in this year's coaching transition.
"I rate Smit highly as a person and as a leader, and I think that with several experienced players to back him up, there is every reason to believe he can lead the Springboks to their first victory on New Zealand soil in 10 years," Mallett said after his Italian side's recent loss to the Boks.
The Springboks have lost prop Os du Randt, halfback Fourie du Preez and midfielder Jaques Fourie from their World Cup squad while the All Blacks are without about a dozen players who have retired, gone overseas or are injured like captain Richie McCaw.
There is a belief that de Villiers will select Adrian Jacobs rather than the highly talented, younger but erratic Francois Steyn in the midfield. The Springbok side will be revealed today and if Jacobs is picked, the All Blacks will fancy their chances as they believe Jacobs' defence is suspect.
