KEY POINTS:
New coach Peter de Villiers' state of mind is a vast contrast from his senior Springboks players as they prepare for their first defining rugby test since winning the World Cup.
De Villiers has been a jovial figure all week but professed to having butterflies ahead of the opening Tri-Nations test against the All Blacks in Wellington tomorrow.
Since inheriting the role from Jake White, de Villiers has maintained a quirky nature in his press conferences and the smiling visage has remained through two wins over Wales and an equally comfortable defeat of Italy at home last month.
That changed today as he contemplated an All Blacks side who have won five of their last six tests against the Springboks.
"I'm very nervous for one reason only, it's New Zealand in New Zealand," de Villiers said.
"I know they've tried to play a few mind games, telling us that we are the favourites.
"The one fact is that we are the world champions, that is true. But I don't think any other team will ever enter the shores of New Zealand and be the favourites here."
The England team of 2004 arrived in New Zealand as world champions in 2004 and were sent packing with two heavy defeats.
De Villiers reckoned counterpart Graham Henry had been playing mind games all week by talking up the Springboks and took little joy from the New Zealand's injury problems and the off-field controversy surrounding reserve halfback Jimmy Cowan.
"If we're going to focus on their mishaps, we're going to lose the plot," he said.
"We have our future in our own hands.' '
In contrast to their coach, the South African players have exuded an air of self-belief, fuelled by their triumph in France last October.
Influential flanker Schalk Burger makes his first test start of the year after overcoming injury and detected a more confident mood than usual going into an All Blacks test.
"It's one thing to be in contention but then another thing to actually believe you can win the match," Burger said.
"That's something we've never achieved as a group."
Electric winger Bryan Habana believed the World Cup would inspire the visitors to new heights both tomorrow and a week later in Dunedin, giving them two good cracks at ending their decade-long drought on New Zealand soil.
"We want to come out here and prove ourselves worthy of the No 1 spot in the world. It's a great desire for each and every player."
Henry had noticed the extra spring in the Springboks' stride.
It was something he intimated hadn't always been present in recent series.
"They're always strong aren't they?" he said.
"I think there's a few questions about their confidence, (but) their self belief is probably very strong right now."
South African captain John Smit praised the influence of de Villiers after inheriting what is a very experienced squad.
He had brought a fresh vibe to the "family environment" White had created.
"His biggest attribute is the kind of person he is and how he treats the guys," Smit said.
"I can see it's had a positive effect on the guys who have been around for quite some time."
- NZPA
