Bryan Habana celebrates victory over the All Blacks © Getty Images

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Matches: South Africa 28 - 19 New Zealand

Teams: New Zealand | South Africa

The All Blacks must have come to regard the Tri-Nations trophy as a handy little ornament in recent seasons, with their southern hemisphere reign having been unchallenged since 2004.

The Springboks, World Cup winners in 2007 and heirs-apparent, wilted last season and were nilled by Graham Henry's men at Newlands after starting so brightly with a cathartic win at Carisbrook.

The landscape is a little different this year. The hype surrounded Robbie Deans' Wallabies after impressive early season victories, but they fell short under a physical examination from the All Blacks last weekend. The Kiwis on the other hand limped in to the tournament after poor showings against France and Italy, their victory in Auckland a timely papering over of the cracks.

Hidden behind the bluster of Peter de Villiers' continual ruck with the media, the Springboks rested up following their controversial and thrilling series win over the Lions and emerged with a 28-19 win over New Zealand in Bloemfontein on Saturday as the nastiest, most uncompromising team in world rugby.

The All Blacks' second-half fightback was commendable, but they took a beating in the first-half that will leave deep scars heading in to next weekend's vital Test in Durban. They were bullied, unable to deal with the brutal physicality of their hosts. Questions over their lineout were answered. It's broken. Their scrum? Creaking.

The All Blacks walked on to the field as underdogs, and looked every bit the second best team in the opening exchanges. The Springbok XV resembled a glowering prizefighter, battle hardened and ruthless.

South Africa do have issues to address, some slack defence was on display as the superb Conrad Smith breached their line and Ruan Pienaar unforgivably spurned 11 points with poor place kicking, but they will take some beating.

It's almost impossible to write off an All Black side, just ask all those who did so ahead of the Wallabies game, but you have to fear for their chances at Kings Park. Their talismanic leader Richie McCaw, fresh from overpowering George Smith on his 100th Test cap last time out, went face to face with a young pretender in Heinrich Brussow and won't have enjoyed the experience.

With the Springboks shorn of Schalk Burger, many questioned the young Cheetahs' physicality in the build-up - just remember, different doesn't always mean bad. Brussow is a classical openside, gritty and skilful on the floor and in possession of an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time. A joy to watch.

Pierre Spies also chimed in for the first time this international season, his anonymity against the Lions replaced by a willingness to get his hands dirty.

Graham Henry has some tough choices to make. Stephen Donald admirably kept his head down and produced his second fine display in as many weeks, Smith was outstanding and outplayed the self-professed 'best in the world' Jaque Fourie but top-drawer performances were thin on the ground.

Piri Weepu looked to have done enough in his cameo to become the third scrum-half in three games next weekend before two woeful passes gifted Fourie the winning try, and there was a similar story for Jason Eaton who cost the All Blacks a losing bonus point with an offside foray in to a maul - one of many mindless infringements that harmed the visitors.

Ma'a Nonu ignored his strengths and instead of attacking Pienaar drifted across field, Isaac Ross was anonymous for large portions of the game and was not helped by an indifferent display from Brad Thorn opposite Bakkies Botha.

The challenge for the Springboks is to justify their self-belief. They have two further home games, in Durban next weekend and against the Wallabies in Cape Town on August 8. The ball is rolling, who fancies stopping it?