The RWC runners-up have been dispatched but the champions loom as a monumental challenge for an All Blacks side stripped of their talisman Richie McCaw.

A serious ankle injury to McCaw means New Zealand will be without their captain and breakdown kingpin for at least their first four Tri-Nations tests, including two massive challenges from South Africa next month.

The world champion Springboks will fancy their chances of ending the All Blacks' world record home winning streak of 28 tests, which was extended with Saturday's 44-12 defeat of England here.

South Africa are themselves on a 13-match winning run and have arguably been the most impressive international team through June, thumping Six Nations champions Wales twice at altitude and Italy 26-0 at Cape Town on Sunday morning (NZ time).

The All Blacks only played with authority in patches against a disappointing England, including the second test at AMI Stadium in which the breakdown work and lineout functioned in fits and starts.

It just so happens that New Zealand's best practitioners of those arts both left the game with ankle injuries -- McCaw and senior lock Ali Williams.

McCaw is out for at least six weeks after tearing ligaments high in his ankle.

While Williams' sprain is less serious, he faces a race against time to be ready for the first Springboks clash at Wellington on July 5.

All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith was already embracing the South African challenge which will loom into sight after his players take this week off.

"You need your best players and your best leaders on the field," Smith told NZPA.

"It's going to be a massive test, we're just going to have to really steel up. A lot of guys are going to have to really front to take up the slack.

"It's going to be a real test of our resilience and our depth and our spirit.

"I'm pretty positive about it, we've got a good young group."

McCaw, 27, has enjoyed a charmed run considering the punishment he puts his body through.

The last time he missed a test with injury was the dead rubber third Lions test at Auckland in 2005 while his most serious injury was the ongoing concussion that sidelined him through much of 2004.

The captain's armband he was worn 25 times will probably be passed to loose forward comrade Rodney So'oialo, the Hurricanes skipper who is yet to lead his country.

There was a quirky moment at Wellington Airport yesterday when So'oialo crossed paths with the man who preceded McCaw as national captain, Tana Umaga, who is back in Wellington after completing a season of coaching at French club Toulon.

So'oialo led his inexperienced pack well over what could have been a difficult final 50 minutes against the combative English.

Players such as lock Anthony Boric and flanker Adam Thomson -- both now legitimate starting options against South Africa despite each starting just two tests -- will have benefited hugely.

Coach Graham Henry said it further vindicated his rotation selection policy.

"You can see why you need people to play, because you lose people through injury," Henry said.

"We're pleased with that decision to allow people to play and they stood up and played well. It's good to have two quality players playing there."

Henry was pleased overall with his team's June campaign, with three wins the minimum requirement after their World Cup quarterfinal failure last October.

They out-hustled a feisty Irish challenge 21-11 at a freezing Wellington and sliced up a ponderous England twice, including a 37-20 first test win in Auckland.

"If we had been asked three weeks ago where we would like to be, this is probably better than we anticipated," Henry said.

"There's still areas of the game we need to work on but we've got the space now and guys can recover a bit and hopefully we'll improve."

McCaw was the dominant figure against Ireland while first five-eighth Daniel Carter shone brightest in both England tests, finishing with 44 of New Zealand's 81 points and stamping his authority in general play with some sparkling moments.

So'oialo voiced the sentiments of several of his teammates when contemplating a rare week off rugby.

"The last three games have been very tough, not just mentally but also the body as well," he said.

About half of the All Blacks squad were to play club rugby this