If there is one traditional enemy every touring team fears when landing on South Africa’s Highveld, it isn't just the bone-crunching physicality of the locals; it is the invisible chokehold of the altitude.
For the All Blacks, surviving the 1,350-metre elevation of Pretoria has been the first crucial hurdle of their tour. Rising loose forward Peter Lakai admitted that the initial adjustment to the thin air during their clash against the Bulls was a shock to the system.
"Playing up in Pretoria, you know, the lungs were definitely going," Lakai reflected after a gruelling training session. "But, you know, being here for a week and a bit, and I'm starting to get used to it, so yeah, enjoying it."
That extra "week and a bit" in the high country could prove to be the masterstroke of the tour. Historically, teams flying into the Highveld late suffer dramatic, fatal drop-offs in the final 20 minutes of matches. By establishing an early base, the New Zealanders have successfully acclimatised, ensuring their lungs will match their ambition when the intensity hits its peak.
While the All Blacks have been grinding through high-intensity lead-up fixtures, Springbok mastermind Rassie Erasmus has kept his frontline squad locked away in isolation, spending the entire period preparing exclusively for the Test series.
It is a stark contrast in preparation that is not lost on Lakai. While the Springboks will walk onto the pitch completely fresh and tactically unexposed, the All Blacks believe their own battle-hardened run has primed them for the looming collision.
"I guess in international rugby, you're gonna come up against pretty good forward packs and the Springboks have probably been the benchmark the last few years," Lakai said. "So it'll be a tough challenge, but the boys have prepped well, and we'll be up for it."
With the altitude conquered and the defensive foundations laid, the stage is set for an epic, old-school forward battle. The lungs are ready; the minds are sharp. Now, the ultimate benchmark awaits.