ABs face battle to keep precious home record

By BEN FAWKES - The Dominion Post | Friday, 04 July 2008

hey are the reigning world champs - but even the Springboks concede that counts for precious little when they take on the All Blacks on Saturday night in Wellington.

South Africa has not won in New Zealand for a decade - a statistic that skipper John Smit admits rankles with the current squad.

"It's a burning desire purely because it's been so long and the majority of us that have come a long way together over the last four or five years have just never been able to put one over, over here.

"So it certainly does put a bit of fire in the belly and it's a box that hasn't been ticked."

With Ireland and England vanquished, the first Tri-Nations test is looming as a grudge match as Graham Henry's men seek to avenge the Cardiff meltdown that paved the way for South Africa to be crowned the world's best.

But the Springboks are up against the All Blacks' daunting home record, with 29 straight wins since losing to England in Wellington in 2003.

All Black fullback Mils Muliaina said the Springboks would be anxious to live up to their world-champion tag.

He was one of several players who visited the Weta Cave film memorabilia store yesterday. Aside from cavorting with ray guns and Lord of the Rings merchandise, Muliaina said there had been a noticeable lift in intensity at training and at the team hotel, as the side geared up for what he described as the biggest test of the year.

"It's always a big game against them, there is a lot of history ... They are our biggest foe. Everyone wants to kick the Tri-Nations off on a high."