Perhaps in keeping with Jozi's reputation as a land of opportunity for foreigners, the All Blacks no longer find Ellis Park the cold, hostile citadel of South African rugby.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said yesterday: "What happened in the World Cup in 1995 is very special.
"[But] in the professional era, with so many games being played in Super rugby, I don't think the ground or the crowd is going to do it for you.
"A few years back the Highveld was a great advantage for us. [It was] always difficult for travelling sides. I don't believe that is the case these days. We travel all over the world and a lot of those games are at sea level.
"We also found it difficult training on the Highveld."
The Springboks have lost three of their last four Tests on home soil against the All Blacks, all of them in Johannesburg's rarefied air. Meyer knows he can no longer rely on outside forces to boost his side's fortunes. Victory will not come cheap.
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