Kieran Read praises improved Springboks, excited to face traditional foe

The thought of a Springbok side on the rise back towards the top of world rugby excites Kieran Read.

The All Blacks skipper believes his side are in store for a traditional, physical encounter when the world champions host South Africa in Albany on Saturday night.

The visitors have barely got close to tipping up New Zealand in a Test since their last win in 2014, shipping a combined 98-points in two 2016 losses.

However a shift in team culture led by coach Allister Coetzee has seen the Boks bounce back from a horrid 2016 Test campaign, which produced just four wins, to arriving in New Zealand with a undefeated record this year.

The only scar on that perfect record was a 23-all draw with the Wallabies in Perth last weekend.

Read said, from the outside looking in, it appears Coetzee and his troops have turned the corner.

"They are certainly looking like they are pretty hungry, they aren't shirking their responsibilities," Read told reporters at QBE Stadium on Friday.

"It comes back to the old traditional foe for us. That is exciting and great for the fans and great for us and that's what we want as players  to be challenged."

A pro-South African crowd isn't completely out of the question come Saturday night. Albany is referred to as "Little South Africa" due to a growing immigrant community from the Republic.

Read acknowledges that the Rugby Championship fixture could provide quite the unique experience for his side.

"We know it's a different challenge tomorrow night, it's pretty big so really looking forward to it.

"There is a big South African community here on the North Shore and they bring a bit of hype and excitement  I'm not going to say no to that, so hopefully it matches the game that is going to be put out there tomorrow night.

"I think it's important for us to finish our year at home well  can't wait to do that."

And the Springboks face an All Blacks side in the midst of a mini-rebuild.

Injuries to key players and Ben Smith's sabbatical has seen 250 test caps of experience disappear from the side in the last month.

The 31-year-old said why it has been unsettling to have a high turnover rate in player personal, it can only benefit New Zealand rugby moving forward.

"We have improved as a team [but] there are always things to work on but I think we are on the upward trend. The amount of guys who have had exposure [this year], it just builds us nicely for the future.

Read added, "We are constantly trying to improve and keep pushing ourselves to not settle for we what we have done and look for ways to get better.

"Changes to the team force you to focus on different things every week, you have to realign yourself; make sure you have the lines right between the players and the coaches. It's a squad game now and that's certainly been the case this year with the players coming in and out.

"I've continued to push myself and hopefully the boys can follow me and we keep going well."

Anything less than a Springbok victory would all-but seal another Rugby Championship crown for the All Blacks.

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