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South Africa is a country of contrast and the All Blacks and Springboks are playing their part in the build-up to Saturday's Tri Nations showdown at Newlands.
As Graham Henry yesterday predictably named an unchanged starting XV for the first time this season, Peter de Villiers was agonising over numerous forced changes and close calls as he prepared his team sheet.
While the All Blacks trained on the plush grounds of exclusive boarding school Bishops College yesterday, the Springboks headed to less salubrious surrounds of Florida Park in the poor coloured neighbourhood of Ravensfield.
At Bishops workers chipped away at the first XI's new cricket pavilion.
Across town at Tygerberg Rugby Club barbwire-topped graffiti-covered fences rimmed the Western Province club side's run-down home ground.
While the All Blacks closed their session to the media and hunkered down for test week, the Springboks went through their paces in front of 1000 curious locals.
The All Blacks have a more settled look, both on paper and in their body language.
Henry has retained the run-on side that beat Australia two weeks ago in Auckland with the only change coming on the reserves bench where Isaia Toeava completes his recall to test rugby.
Toeava, who was dropped after last October's ill-fated quarter final loss to France, replaces Anthony Tuitavake in the sole change to the squad.
It is a move that makes sense with the Aucklander better able to cover fullback.
"Playing the Springboks in South Africa might be the biggest challenge in world rugby at the moment," Henry said on announcing a side that has had spring in their step at training this week and appears to be enjoying each other's company.
The Springbok team named this morning has five changes.
Yesterday's respective training sessions were contrasting, not just for the venues.
While the All Blacks focused on the breakdown and defence, South Africa practiced kick and counterattack.
The venues also highlighted one of the curiosities of the Cape's rugby public.
All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen talked early this week of the advantage of playing at home, but Cape Town provides a curious twist.
While the majority of Saturday's sell-out crowd will be behind the home side locals say about 20 percent of the Newlands crowd will be cheering for the All Blacks.
Perhaps they will nullify the home ground edge.
South Africa doesn't have the best record against the All Blacks at Newlands.
Though they won 22-16 in 2005, the last time the sides met in Cape Town, the Springboks have won only three of the eight matches in the city.
Rugby is popular among the province's large coloured community, but the Springboks are not.
Many blacks spoken to by Farifax Media this week have said they support the Springboks now that the players and coaches reflects the Rainbow Nations people.
The coloured population have not.
Their anti-Springbok sentiment is a hangover from apartheid and to many the national rugby team still represent and remind them of the country's worst days.
A welcoming party in t-shirts with "All Blacks Forever" printed on the back turned out at the airport when the visitors arrived and it isn't hard to find rabid New Zealand fans.
New Zealand: Mils Muliania, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Adam Thompson, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava.
While the All Blacks opted for the status quo, the Springboks today made five changes to their starting 15 for a rugby test that New Zealand coach Graham Henry describes as pivotal to this year's Tri-Nations title.
Among the quintet coming into South Africa's run-on side is their most capped player, fullback Percy Montgomery, who came off the bench in the 63-9 win over Argentina in Johannesburg last weekend, a match to celebrate former president Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday.
For Montgomery, 34, his recall at the expense of Conrad Jantjes, who drops to the reserves, means he will become the first Springbok to amass 100 caps and he will achieve the feat on his home ground.
"Against New Zealand is going to make it more special," Montgomery said.
At halfback, Fourie du Preez will have his first start in the Springbok No 9 jersey since South Africa's World Cup triumph last year.
His inclusion means Ricky Januarie, whose piece of individual magic carried the Springboks to a 30-28 victory the All Blacks in Dunedin last month, drops to the bench.
Winger Bryan Habana and flanker Schalk Burger, who were rested against the Pumas as a precaution, and lock Andries Bekker, replacing the injured Bakkies Botha, are the other additions.
Coach Peter de Villiers said the part Montgomery played against the All Blacks at Carisbrook had been a key to the victory there, while Januarie's workload meant he needed a breather.
"You look at how many games how many games he has played and you can see the legs getting heavier and heavier," he said.
"I think it is the right time now to make that change."
All Black coach Graham Henry said none of the Springbok changes was a surprise to him.
Like assistant Wayne Smith, the backs coach, Henry rated du Preez as the best halfback in the world.
He said the fact that Jantjes "got smashed around against Argentina" might have something to do with Montgomery's selection, but so too could the 100th cap.
"There might be an emotional button there as well," he said.
"He's been a great servant to South African rugby and he will probably be very motivational for the other 21 players."
The All Blacks, meanwhile, have retained the same 15 that started in the comprehensive 39-10 victory over Australia in Auckland 1½ weeks ago.
Henry said the main area of discussion was about the bench, where one change was made with the addition of utility back Isaia Toeava in place of Anthony Tuitavake.
He said Toeava, a late call-up last week to the tour party to replace injured fullback Leon MacDonald, was playing fullback for Auckland in the Air NZ Cup and was also able to cover wing, cent re and second five-eighth.
Henry acknowledged that repeating the level of performance the All Blacks produced against the Wallabies at Eden park would be a big challenge.
Two defeats in a row and playing at home had been strong motivators to do well that night.
"There was huge pressure to perform in that game," he said.
"In saying that, this is a pivotal game in the Tri-Nations. South Africa is a proud rugby nation and a proud rugby team, and we're out here to do our best."
www.stuff.co.nz
As Graham Henry yesterday predictably named an unchanged starting XV for the first time this season, Peter de Villiers was agonising over numerous forced changes and close calls as he prepared his team sheet.
While the All Blacks trained on the plush grounds of exclusive boarding school Bishops College yesterday, the Springboks headed to less salubrious surrounds of Florida Park in the poor coloured neighbourhood of Ravensfield.
At Bishops workers chipped away at the first XI's new cricket pavilion.
Across town at Tygerberg Rugby Club barbwire-topped graffiti-covered fences rimmed the Western Province club side's run-down home ground.
While the All Blacks closed their session to the media and hunkered down for test week, the Springboks went through their paces in front of 1000 curious locals.
The All Blacks have a more settled look, both on paper and in their body language.
Henry has retained the run-on side that beat Australia two weeks ago in Auckland with the only change coming on the reserves bench where Isaia Toeava completes his recall to test rugby.
Toeava, who was dropped after last October's ill-fated quarter final loss to France, replaces Anthony Tuitavake in the sole change to the squad.
It is a move that makes sense with the Aucklander better able to cover fullback.
"Playing the Springboks in South Africa might be the biggest challenge in world rugby at the moment," Henry said on announcing a side that has had spring in their step at training this week and appears to be enjoying each other's company.
The Springbok team named this morning has five changes.
Yesterday's respective training sessions were contrasting, not just for the venues.
While the All Blacks focused on the breakdown and defence, South Africa practiced kick and counterattack.
The venues also highlighted one of the curiosities of the Cape's rugby public.
All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen talked early this week of the advantage of playing at home, but Cape Town provides a curious twist.
While the majority of Saturday's sell-out crowd will be behind the home side locals say about 20 percent of the Newlands crowd will be cheering for the All Blacks.
Perhaps they will nullify the home ground edge.
South Africa doesn't have the best record against the All Blacks at Newlands.
Though they won 22-16 in 2005, the last time the sides met in Cape Town, the Springboks have won only three of the eight matches in the city.
Rugby is popular among the province's large coloured community, but the Springboks are not.
Many blacks spoken to by Farifax Media this week have said they support the Springboks now that the players and coaches reflects the Rainbow Nations people.
The coloured population have not.
Their anti-Springbok sentiment is a hangover from apartheid and to many the national rugby team still represent and remind them of the country's worst days.
A welcoming party in t-shirts with "All Blacks Forever" printed on the back turned out at the airport when the visitors arrived and it isn't hard to find rabid New Zealand fans.
New Zealand: Mils Muliania, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Adam Thompson, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava.
While the All Blacks opted for the status quo, the Springboks today made five changes to their starting 15 for a rugby test that New Zealand coach Graham Henry describes as pivotal to this year's Tri-Nations title.
Among the quintet coming into South Africa's run-on side is their most capped player, fullback Percy Montgomery, who came off the bench in the 63-9 win over Argentina in Johannesburg last weekend, a match to celebrate former president Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday.
For Montgomery, 34, his recall at the expense of Conrad Jantjes, who drops to the reserves, means he will become the first Springbok to amass 100 caps and he will achieve the feat on his home ground.
"Against New Zealand is going to make it more special," Montgomery said.
At halfback, Fourie du Preez will have his first start in the Springbok No 9 jersey since South Africa's World Cup triumph last year.
His inclusion means Ricky Januarie, whose piece of individual magic carried the Springboks to a 30-28 victory the All Blacks in Dunedin last month, drops to the bench.
Winger Bryan Habana and flanker Schalk Burger, who were rested against the Pumas as a precaution, and lock Andries Bekker, replacing the injured Bakkies Botha, are the other additions.
Coach Peter de Villiers said the part Montgomery played against the All Blacks at Carisbrook had been a key to the victory there, while Januarie's workload meant he needed a breather.
"You look at how many games how many games he has played and you can see the legs getting heavier and heavier," he said.
"I think it is the right time now to make that change."
All Black coach Graham Henry said none of the Springbok changes was a surprise to him.
Like assistant Wayne Smith, the backs coach, Henry rated du Preez as the best halfback in the world.
He said the fact that Jantjes "got smashed around against Argentina" might have something to do with Montgomery's selection, but so too could the 100th cap.
"There might be an emotional button there as well," he said.
"He's been a great servant to South African rugby and he will probably be very motivational for the other 21 players."
The All Blacks, meanwhile, have retained the same 15 that started in the comprehensive 39-10 victory over Australia in Auckland 1½ weeks ago.
Henry said the main area of discussion was about the bench, where one change was made with the addition of utility back Isaia Toeava in place of Anthony Tuitavake.
He said Toeava, a late call-up last week to the tour party to replace injured fullback Leon MacDonald, was playing fullback for Auckland in the Air NZ Cup and was also able to cover wing, cent re and second five-eighth.
Henry acknowledged that repeating the level of performance the All Blacks produced against the Wallabies at Eden park would be a big challenge.
Two defeats in a row and playing at home had been strong motivators to do well that night.
"There was huge pressure to perform in that game," he said.
"In saying that, this is a pivotal game in the Tri-Nations. South Africa is a proud rugby nation and a proud rugby team, and we're out here to do our best."
www.stuff.co.nz
