The veteran All Blacks' Ellis Park message ringing in Peter Lakai's ears

Saturday night in Johannesburg looms as a potential first opportunity to square off with the Springboks for rising All Blacks star Peter Lakai, and his teammates have been letting him know just what he could be in for.

While Lakai, 23, is only at the beginning of his Test career, three Test centurions in the All Blacks squad have been on hand to share lessons from their experiences in the Rainbow Nation, and their stories have left the youngster with clear expectations for the match.

The recently crowned Super Rugby Pacific champion has featured in two of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour’s opening games against South Africa’s URC club sides, getting him a taste of what’s to come, but Lakai knows the four-Test series will be played at a far higher level of intensity.

“It’s really exciting. They’re the number one team for a reason, and Ellis Park is where a few of the boys have said they’ve played their toughest games. So to hopefully run out on Saturday would be a privilege,” Lakai said.

“I can’t really speak too much on it, I’m just trying to get my prep right and get my mindset right.”

With three winning Tests under their belt under a new coaching regime to begin 2026, the All Blacks are looking forward to measuring their new game plan against what Lakai describes as the “benchmark” team over recent years, especially up front.

The 10-Test flanker is competing for a place in any of the three loose forward positions, having spent the bulk of his career to date at No.8, the jersey All Blacks captain Ardie Savea has begun the Test campaign in. With an extended 44-man squad on tour, Lakai has seven flankers to compete with for minutes, including both established leaders and up-and-comers eager to prove a point.

“I guess, for me, it’s just trying to get my rhythm throughout the tour games and trying to get some more minutes under my belt. It’s a pretty tough competition, and everyone’s playing well. The boys have been good; there’s healthy competition, everyone’s pushing each other, and ultimately we’re making each other better,” he said when prompted on the contest for minutes.

While the opposition and crowd are two of the main factors involved in any visit to Ellis Park, the altitude is always another. Positioned 1,753 metres above sea level, the thinner air at the stadium affects both breathing and the way the ball travels through the air, but the All Blacks say they haven’t spent any time addressing the altitude.

“Playing in Pretoria last week, the lungs were definitely burning,” Lakai reflected. “But being here for a week and a bit now, I’m starting to get used to it.”

Hoping for his first taste of rugby in South Africa, Lakai says his mindset is simply to cherish the intensity that will inevitably sweep through the cauldron of Ellis Park early on Saturday evening.

“They’re obviously a physical team. Their set piece is dominant, so I think we can expect that,” he analysed.

“I guess it’s just to embrace it. There’s a lot of people who would kill to be in our shoes. So, just embracing the occasion and getting to run out with 22 other brothers against the Springboks at Ellis Park, it’s a special moment.”