After watching the Vodacom Tri-Nations opener between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney, Bok star Andre Venter admitted he doesn't really know what to expect from the All Blacks in Christchurch on Saturday.

There are few, if any, opposing players outside Australia who know the All Blacks better than Venter. It will be his 11th encounter against the mighty Kiwis, with only Joost van der Westhuizen of the current squad having faced them more.

His uncertainty comes from the new brand of rugby the All Blacks have been playing, as well as his new role as lock. Nick Mallett has shifted the rugged loose forward from his customary flanker's job to cover for injuries - a move the coach made reluctantly as it meant breaking up his powerful Cats loose forward combination.

"Like any relationship, it took a while to build up," Venter said of the effective game he developed with fellow Cats loosies Andre Vos and Rassie Erasmus. Corne Krige has been shifted into the former Free Stater's position for Saturday.

Mallett has no worries about Venter's abilities at lock. "He'll be able to handle the job, he's experienced enough and I have a lot of faith in him. In fact, I'm confident he'll add to the team because he's quite mobile."

The player doesn't mind the switch either. "I played a few games there after halftime when replacements have come on. It may have been easier switching there then, but this is the first time I'm going to start a Test in the position," he said.

He played a full game at lock against New South Wales in a Vodacom Super 12 match last year. "I have trained at lock before. Rugby is just so fast these days, so it shouldn't be too hard. There are fewer scrums in the game these days, so that's a bonus."

Venter admitted it was scary to some extent watching the Kiwis score three scorching tries in the opening six minutes of their 39-35 win over Australia in Sydney on Saturday. "They set new standards - it was an incredible game of rugby, but that's given us something to aim for.

"Our team spirit has been good this week, even though we've come here after losing to England and Australia. I think we can swing it around - we have the team. The guys are determined and believe we can achieve a win.

"But that'll mean the best from us and nothing less. We haven't played well right from the beginning of the year. We have played 20 or 30 minutes of really good rugby, but have not taken it right through the game. The coach can do only so much - it's really up to the players when they are inside the four lines on the field."

Venter, like most of the South African players, has supported Mallett's move to change the team's style of play to speedier, 15-man rugby rather than resorting to their forward grunt. "That's the right way to go - rugby is going that way. It's becoming faster and faster and more and more expansive. We're trying to score tries - that's what we want and that's what the people want.

"South Africa is a lot different to Australia and New Zealand. I know in Australia most of the unions are playing the same sort of rugby, but not in South Africa." Mallett said unless the Vodacom Super 12 franchises in South Africa came under the control of the SARFU, it was not possible to establish the same style of game throughout the country.

Venter made his Test debut against New Zealand in Durban in 1996 in place of injured captain Francois Pienaar. "Naturally, it was very memorable day for me, being my first Test against a great nation like New Zealand. All my games against them have been special. Last year we beat them in the World Cup after we lost both Tri-Nations Tests to them. But that's what makes it so awesome."

Playing against the All Blacks has also presented Venter with his most disappointing experience in the game. He was sent from the field during the Vodacom Tri-Nations Test in Auckland in 1997 for allegedly kicking an opponent during a match New Zealand won 55-35. "That is my biggest disappointment ever in rugby."