UMHLANGA - Wallabies coach Eddie Jones believes the All Blacks are heading for a rugby reality check when they open their Tri Nations campaign against a resurgent South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday.
Jones suggested the All Blacks were over confident after a crushing 3-0 series defeat of the
British and Irish Lions and expected the Springboks, 22-16 winners over the Wallabies in Pretoria yesterday, to give New Zealand a more accurate assessment of their current form.
"I think we need to see them play against this mob to see where they are up to," Jones said after presiding over consecutive losses to the Springboks on the high veldt.
"They've (the All Blacks) definitely got a lot of confidence.
"It's interesting the way they are talking, how confidently they are talking, given they have come off the back of a series against what you'd have to term not particular high standard opposition."
After two commanding victories against the Wallabies to firstly retain the Mandela Challenge Plate and then set the early pace in the Tri Nations, South Africa are equipped to offer a sterner challenge than that offered by the disappointing Lions.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry, assistants Wayne Smith, Steve Hansen and manager Sir Brian Lochore witnessed the Springboks victory at Loftus Versfeld first hand and headed back to the team's base here near Durban last night with plenty to ponder after a dominant Springbok pack laid the platform for an ultimately comfortable victory.
Jones, who is still waiting for his first coaching success at altitude after five years of trying, was loathe to pick the winner at Newlands but expected a tight contest given wet weather is likely.
"It's probably going to be a slog-athon, I couldn't see the game being very open at all," he said.
Satisfied Springboks counterpart Jake White also anticipated a dour struggle and said the line-up would be altered accordingly.
"One of the things about the All Blacks is that they play a lot more direct. I think also the conditions they play in will be a lot different -- they'll be a lot slower under foot.
"There'll be a lot more close contact and that's something we've got to look at.
"I'll meet with the selectors a bit later and see where we can make one or two changes just to make sure we give ourselves a fair chance to get a result."
Meanwhile, the All Blacks were to have their first scheduled training run in Durban today, a light work out to shake off the jet lag.
They made a low key quiet entrance to South Africa last night, escaping a city in the midst of strike action by municipal workers for one of South Africa's popular coastal destinations 20km north.
Flanker Richie McCaw appears to be over a virus though centre Conrad Smith picked up a bug on the long flight over.
An update on wing Sitiveni Sivivatu's shoulder injury, suffered at contact training in Auckland last week, was expected after the workout.
- NZPA
UMHLANGA - Wallabies coach Eddie Jones believes the All Blacks are heading for a rugby reality check when they open their Tri Nations campaign against a resurgent South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday.
Jones suggested the All Blacks were over confident after a crushing 3-0 series defeat of the
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