Boks aware of historic setting

When South Africa line up against New Zealand in today's Tri Nations crunch matching in Hamilton, they will look to mark their historic return to the Waikato Stadium by clinching the one point needed to lift the trophy. It will be the Springboks first test in the city since the controversial tour of 1981, where 350 anti-aparthied protestors stormed the then Rugby Park and the match was abandoned.

"We have an opportunity to celebrate how far we have come since 1981 as a country," said captain John Smit. "To be able to celebrate that by using rugby and playing for our country against the All Blacks, it is a wonderfully positive thing to be able to do." South Africa are one point away from breaking New Zealand's stronghold on the Tri Nations. The All Blacks have lifted the trophy for the last three years.

"We have got to play this game to win it," explained Smit, "it's another awesome opportunity against our greatest foe. It's a Test match we'll play to win. Everything else will be a sideline distraction." After losing to Australia in Brisbane last week, Springbok's coach Peter de Villiers claimed his team were unfairly penalised by the referees due to their world number one status. Smit, who moves from hooker to tighthead prop today, played down the comments ahead of the match where Welshman Nigel Owens will be in charge.

"It's really the hardest job on a Saturday, to referee an international of this standard," Smit continued. "I don't think we've ever seen a player play the perfect game, not miss a kick, not miss a throw, have a game full of good scrums, and the same can be said of referees. They've got a pretty stern challenge." * With agencies Showsports 2, KO 11.30am