Scott Robertson enjoys telling stories - he revels in the rugby ones but his repertoire is much wider - and if the All Blacks send the mighty Springboks spinning to the canvas during their heavyweight encounter in Johannesburg on Sunday morning, he will have added another cracker to his collection.
Robertson, having earlier named his team for the test, was adamant that the exit of Leon MacDonald hadn’t disrupted preparations.
Then came another big talking point: The decision to start Sam Cane, the ex-captain who suffered the agony of being red carded during the World Cup final against the Springboks in Paris last year, at openside flanker because Dalton Papali'i has a thumb injury.
Robertson says Cane is a test veteran they need on the high veldt, with all his experience and calmness, but also really good tough shoulders.
Next to fullback Beauden Barrett, who has piled-up 128 test caps, Cane knows the importance of being able to dig a foxhole in the dirt, clench the teeth and scrap the Springboks for 80 frantic minutes.
Lock Scott Barrett, having missed the first two Rugby Championship games against Argentina because of a finger injury, will captain the All Blacks at Ellis Park but Cane will be there, near his shoulder, offering advice and a calm voice when things, inevitably, hit boiling point.
While Robertson farewelled a member of his coaching staff last week, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has had a former All Black in Tony Brown to offer ideas, insights and advice on his staff.
Robertson also referenced Erasmus' strategy of having used so-called traffic lights from the coaching box to send signals to his players.
Robertson knows the margins are fine, and how easily points can be surrendered in the thin air, where goal kickers can kick the ball enormous distances.
The Springboks host the All Blacks 3am Sunday at Ellis Park while the Pumas play the Wallabies at 10am in Buenos Aires.
All Blacks: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Damian McKenzie, TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Ethan Blackadder, Tupou Vaa'i, Scott Barrett (captain), Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Sam Darry, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Tele'a
