Friday 16 September 2016 10:59, UK
Captain Adriaan Strauss admitted South Africa they have work as they look to improve on a poor run of form as they prepare to face New Zealand in the Rugby Championship on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
The Springboks have struggled for form under new coach Allister Coetzee, losing to Ireland in June, while they needed a 17-point burst in the final 10 minutes to defeat Argentina 30-23 in their opening match of the competition.
They subsequently lost 26-24 to the Pumas in Salta and were then poor in losing 23-17 to a Wallabies side last week in Brisbane who were also off their game.
Strauss's team now face an All Blacks side who have taken their game to a new level since winning last year's World Cup, hammering the Wallabies twice and then outclassing a belligerent Pumas side in the final half-hour last week.
"There is definitely progress [but] there's still a lot of hard work that lies ahead," said Strauss.
"We are not the team we want to be... and we know we are not there yet.
"The criticism and questions from outside are fair and part of the game, but we know where we are heading."
The Springboks were presented with their jerseys on Friday by 2007 World Cup winning captain John Smit, the last skipper to beat the All Blacks in New Zealand in a 32-29 victory in Hamilton in September 2009.
Since that loss, the All Blacks have not been beaten in New Zealand, a run of 43 matches, and are on a 14-match unbeaten run since last year.
Despite the closeness of several recent games, the All Blacks have won eight of the last 10 clashes between the sides.
Coetzee, however, said he felt the rugby world would still take notice on Saturday, given the long history between the traditional rivals.
"Whenever South Africa have played New Zealand in the past, it's always been a big battle. The world stops and looks at a match like this," said Coetzee.
"We are looking forward to it because tradition and history tell you that it is going to be a physical battle and skill sets will be tested.
"We playing against the world's number one team and it's going to be a great test of where we are as a team and how much progress we have made up until now."
Watch New Zealand v South Africa in the Rugby Championship on Saturday from 8am on Sky Sports 3 and Sky Sports Mix. Catch all the action for £6.99 with a NOW TV day pass.
