“Massive and Clinical”. The two words that All Blacks giant prop Tamaiti Williams has used to describe the Springboks ahead of their historic Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France outside Paris on Saturday.
It is a tad ironic when the 1.94metre, 144kg prop calls an opposition player “massive”, but Williams will be forgiven with knowing that he is going on the performances of the Springbok scrum bench, which was particularly effective in getting them the narrow, come-from-behind victory over England in the semifinal.
Williams will be squarely in the firing line when Ox Nche and Vincent Koch - if the Boks stick to the same front row recipe that has got them this far - get onto the field and look for dominance in the final quarter of the game.
But he believes he is ready for the challenge, which, to say the least, would be daunting for any prop in his position.
"My prep [preparation] is the same every week. You work all year to this point and I pride myself in my preparation, so I will trust that,” he said on Monday and praised the power of the Springboks’ scrum.
"They are great scrummagers, as we all know. If I get the opportunity to be out there on Saturday, I'll be up for the challenge. But it all starts with the preparation, and we'll have a closer look at how we can counter that.
"They are massive, and clinical. If you give them a chance they all take it. For us, it is all about being clean. You have to match the physicality. Everyone knows what they are going to bring. We had a good win against them [in Auckland] and we got a hiding against them [at Twickenham] as well."
Hooker Samison Taukei'aho was a bit more direct, saying he couldn’t wait to confront the Springboks..
"They are big men and they love confrontation. I like to base my game around that, so I am really excited about it."
As the least experienced of the All Blacks' hookers, he said he had enjoyed working with Dane Coles and Codie Taylor. Coles is retiring after the Rugby World Cup and has more than enough motivation to put in a massive final performance.
"I first met him in 2021 and I clicked with Colesy. I was a bit too cheeky to him, but he took me under his wing, Codie as well. I am in a lucky spot coming in with two world-class hookers and learning from them."
"I think he regrets it now because I'm quite a bit cheeky to him. When it's time to be serious, we're serious and when it's time to joke around, we love to have a laugh, Codie as well."
Coles had given him advice, especially about his throwing into lineouts.
"He was really open and let me know what I needed to do. He changed the player I am and also the way I look at the game. It's how professional he and Codie are. To be 36 and still playing really good footy is a credit to him."
With both sides’ lineouts being far from their own high standards, the setpiece will be eagerly watched on Saturday.
But it is the scrums where the contest will be won or lost. Williams knows that, the All Blacks know it.
And the Boks will be more than relishing another go at the old foe.