The Springboks touched down in Auckland just before midnight on Wednesday, setting their sights on back-to-back Rugby Championship showdowns with the All Blacks.

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Rassie Erasmus’ men made the long haul from South Africa via Sydney, and will spend Thursday in recovery mode before their first field session on Friday. Their schedule builds toward the much-anticipated clash at Eden Park on 6 September, followed a week later by a second Test at Wellington’s Sky Stadium.

“We travelled well, and although it’s a long trip to New Zealand, we are excited to be here and we are looking forward to the challenge ahead,” said Erasmus.

“It’s always tough playing here, but the group is in good spirits, and we are fully aware of the magnitude of the task ahead.”

The Bok coach stressed the importance of acclimatising early as they gear up for a decisive fortnight in the competition.

“With all four teams in the Rugby Championship having won one match so far and the standings very tight, there’s no doubt that the next two games will be crucial in our campaign,” Erasmus explained.

“The time zone and conditions are obviously very different from back home, so it’s important that we settle in quickly to be sharp at training and ready to be at our best by the time we face the All Blacks next weekend.”

Erasmus also confirmed that player management remains a priority after two bruising battles against Australia.

“We’ve worked out our training schedule in a way that allows the players to recover, while steadily getting into the swing of things for the next two matches,” he said.

“So, we will have only two training sessions this week and then go full throttle into normal Test match mode from Monday.”

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The Springboks face the All Blacks on 6 and 13 September, both matches kicking off at 9.05am (SA time).

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images