All Blacks captain Ardie Savea and his Springboks opposite Siya Kolisi are fierce rivals on the field and close friends off it.
By Joe Porter of RNZ
The pair also have a shared faith, attending church together last Sunday in Johannesburg.
Savea said they try to do it anytime they're both in the same part of the world.
"Yeah, 100%. I think that's a beautiful thing about both nations. We compete, we try and get each other on the field, but what a powerful statement to be able to unite both countries," Savea said.
"To be able to do that with a brother off the field, but then obviously try and destroy each other, it's a massive blessing."
The pair will look to get the better of one another in the second test in Cape Town on Sunday morning and Savea said it's always a challenge playing against his good mate.
"Yeah, it's always special. It's always special playing against Siya and it's always special playing against the Springboks. It demands a lot from you and as an All Black, it's one of the toughest test matches you'll play.
"So to be able to do that here in Cape Town, it's going to be special, but we know the threat that they pose."
Kolisi said he and Savea "do give it to each other" when they meet on the field, but he said rugby is off the agenda when they catch up outside of the tame.
"We don't talk about rugby," Kolisi said.
"We've both got kids and families, so that's the conversations that we have between us two. We also share the same faith, and that's why we go to church together.
"On life and things off the field, the struggles that we face, we talk more about that, but rugby is never a conversation. It's an awkward conversation. He's the leader of that team, and I'm leading the team here and that's never part of the conversation.
"It's just about life and our kids and how things are going off the field and growing together."
Savea and the All Blacks attended a fan event in Cape Town on Friday (local time) and he was blown away by the amount of support the team has in the city.
"Yeah, it's awesome to be able to walk in and hear and see a lot of All Blacks fans. It just reminds you why you play footy. To be here in South Africa, even the Springbok fans, the All Blacks fans, just being part of the spectacle is awesome," Savea said.
One family had driven from all the way from Namibia with their young son, named Ardie, to get a glimpse of the All Blacks captain.
"He's quite amazing. I met him today and that's what it's about," Savea said.
"Footy is 80 minutes, but you live life after that and to see those kind of things, it reminds you why you play the game."
Savea knows the Springboks are hurting after the first test loss at Ellis Park and he's expecting them to be tough to beat in Cape Town. He said it's an almighty challenge facing a wounded Springboks side, who haven't lost two games in a row at home in 11 years.
"We all know what's happened before in the past," Savea said.
"They're a dangerous, dangerous side and it's the testament to the quality that they have across the board. So we understand the threat and the result from last weekend, but we're just as ready as well.
"We've just got to be accurate, stay disciplined and not let them in the areas of the field where they want to play. It's all good me talking about it now, but we have to turn up."
Savea said the All Blacks must get into the game quickly on Sunday morning and said they need to improve how they start the match.
"South Africa came out of the blocks (fast) and they're a real class team and the physical dominant. I don't think we'll get away with that if we start like that again. So we need to tune up and also be accurate."
Savea knows South Africa will be desperate to win and level the four match series, but he said the All Blacks are equally determined to triumph in Cape Town.
"We don't want to look back after the 80-minute whistle and sit there with our heads down," Savea said.
"We've done our part to prepare well for this week, know what's coming, but also what's required from us as a team to be able to respond as well."
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