South Africa have opted to look internally, rather than focus on and get distracted by external sideshows.

Speaking ahead of the Springboks Rugby Championship Round Four encounter with arch rivals New Zealand, in Wellington on Saturday, assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher said this week is all about themselves – as they look to bounce back from last week’s heartbreaking loss to Australia.

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With captain Jean de Villiers set to become the fifth member of the Bok centurion club at the Cake Tin on Saturday, a lot of the media attention has already focused on the Bok midfielder.

However, Loubscher told a media gathering at the team’s training base in Wellington that it (De Villiers’100th Test) is not a big focus for the Boks.

“He has been a great servant for South African rugby and a great leader,” was as much as the Bok backline mentor was prepared to say on the matter.

De Villiers also downplayed the milestone – something which appears to have a curse on it.

Only one Springbok centurion has come out on the winning side in his 100th Test, lock Victor Matfield – when they scored a come-from-behind 44-31 win over Australia in Pretoria on Saturday, 30 August 2010.

Fullback Percy Montgomery missed his only two shots in a 19-0 humbling from the All Blacks at Cape Town in 2008, two years later hooker John Smit missed a key tackle as the All Blacks scored through fullback Israel Dagg in the final play to win 29-22 at Soweto and last weekend in Perth wing Bryan Habana was shown a late yellow card, helping Australia storm home 24-23.

De Villiers made it clear he does not want his teammates to get carried away by the occasion.

“I’ve done this 99 times before, so you sort of know what to do,” he told the media.

“But obviously there will be a lot of emotion that goes with it.

“I’d like to think that our team will be well prepared and will be highly motivated to make the Bok jersey proud.”

Loubscher made it clear that he Boks are not happy”” with the performance against Australia in Perth last week and need to improve.

He pointed to aspects such as the kicking game and their execution that let them down.

Asked what aspects of the All Black game concerns him most, Loubscher again turned the focus inwards.

“This week is all about ourselves,” he said, adding: “We need to make sure we focus on our own game.”

Asked about the current Bok coaching team, which have not tasted victory against the All Blacks in four attempts, Loubscher said it is not a big factor.

“The plan is to win every Test and the plan is no different for us this week”.

“We must ensure we prepare well, focus on our own game and tick all the right boxes.”

Asked about the team’s backline form, he admitted there is room for improvement.

Asked about New Zealand’s famed ball in hand approach and counter-attacking ability, the Boks’ assistant coach again circled the wagons.

“The focus this week, again, is to ensure we tick all the right boxes and play with the right intensity.”

De Villiers was a little more forthcoming. He said he was looking forward to locking horns again this week with long-time midfield foes Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith.

“Having played against them so many times before. You do build up a bit of a relationship, a bit of a friendship.

“And definitely a respect as well.”

South Africa’s most capped players:

114 – Victor Matfield (seven tries)
111 – John Smit (eight)
102 – Percy Montgomery (25)
100 – Bryan Habana (56)
99 – Jean de Villiers (25)
89 – Joost van der Westhuizen (38)
81 – Bakkies Botha (seven)
80 – Os du Randt (five)
79 – Ruan Pienaar (eight)
77 – Mark Andrews (12)