SA don't have the prettiest of records in New Zealand, having last won in the Land of the Long White Cloud in 2009 under Peter de Villiers.
In what was one of the most complete Springbok performances in New Zealand since 1994, SA won 32-29 and haven't smelt victory in New Zealand since then.
Until the British and Irish Lions won last year's second Test 24-21 in Wellington, the All Blacks hadn't lost a home Test since the Hamilton aberration. SA have only won three Tests in New Zealand in 24 years.
WINNING IN NEW ZEALAND IS HARD
At the time, the Boks had won three out of four encounters against the All Blacks home and away. Former Springbok and Sharks utility back Odwa Ndungane started the Hamilton Test at right wing."We knew we had the self-belief and we had the confidence even though we had our backs to the wall. No-one gave us a chance but Peter de Villiers said we'd go to New Zealand and win that game after we lost in Brisbane to the Wallabies. That win was going to hand us the Tri-Nations. More importantly, we had a plan to deal with the All Blacks and we needed to be clinical. We had to make sure they made all the running," Ndungane said.
"That win was one of the best I had in a Springbok jersey, and winning in New Zealand isn't common."
The Boks had a kick-and-chase game that forced New Zealand rugby to change their overall approach. They dispensed with out-and-out pace merchants at wing and employed adaptable back three players who were adept at wing and fullback.
They also paid more attention to set-pieces and they fortunately stumbled upon scrumhalves who could challenge Fourie du Preez's kicking game.
Ndungane said an adherence to basics and belief is needed to win in New Zealand.
NO SMOOTH CONTINUITY
"If you look at the New Zealand teams, a lot of the guys get groomed in and there aren't wholesale changes, which is the case with our rugby. We don't have smooth continuity and that makes a massive difference. Individuals need to step up because when you play against the top teams, you can't have guys off their game. Everyone has to be on board, buy into the plans, stick to the basics and fulfil their roles," said Ndungane."At the time, it didn't feel like it was the last time the Boks were going to win in New Zealand because we did it twice in the space of a year. The belief was there and winning in New Zealand comes down to belief. "
BLACK MARKS IN BRISBANE
The Springboks may have won 47 of their 86 Tests against the Wallabies but they've won only 12 of the 38 they played in Australia.The last time they won Down Under, they beat the Wallabies 38-12 in Brisbane five years ago. The same city was host to the Springboks' 49-0 bashing under Jake White in 2006, one of the Boks' nine defeats in 12 Tests in the Queensland capital.
Former Springbok fullback and current Sharks skills coach Ricardo Loubscher was one of Heyneke Meyer's assistants when the Boks won their first Brisbane Test since 1971.
They kept Australia's dangerous backs try-less in that game.
"We've got a physical pack but we need some X-factor players, but it's always a midfield battle because there are always good backs who run excellent lines. You have to kick to suffocate and eliminate those running opportunities," said Loubscher.
"In that game, we forced a lot of turnovers, which was a by-product of our good defence and we also scored tries from those turnovers. You have to take them on upfront because their main focus is attack. Defence, though, has to be sorted because that's where they can get frustrated."..