The hefty All Blacks contingent venturing to South Africa for the first time are fast learning exactly where the Springboks will seek to squeeze and break their soul.
Dave Rennie's All Blacks revival has, and will continue to be, built on a seize space attacking-minded mentality.
In his five games in charge Rennie has empowered the All Blacks to regain their ruck and run style that marked their inherent strength throughout history.
Speed, ball movement, chasing the width has again been prioritised.
The balance in the All Blacks' game is improving each week as they grasp the need for more tactical kicking than was evident in their early Nations Championship victories in July.
The essence of their intent remains the same, though; chase space at every opportunity.
Since arriving in South Africa, those who had not ventured to the Republic before, and the many who were yet to confront their teams after their exit from Super Rugby six years ago, are quickly discovering where pressure will be relentlessly applied.
South Africa's traditional strengths are no surprise to Rennie and his coaching team. From the Chiefs to the Wallabies, Rennie boasts vast experience and success countering South African opposition.
But with 21 players in the All Blacks' 44-man squad yet to face the Springboks in South Africa, experiencing the size, power and contrasting style firsthand has been eye opening.
It's one thing to talk about what to expect. It's another entirely to meet that challenge head on.
While two tour matches have drastically varied in competitiveness and value, the ability for Rennie to expose his full squad to South African opponents before the Boks is invaluable.
Rennie has used 38 players between the genuine Stormers challenge and underwhelming Sharks. They all now have a greater understanding of where South Africa will come for them.
There are Hakas. And then there are Ma'a Nonu solo Hakas 😤
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The NZ great providing an intense tribute in reply to the visiting All Blacks, a team he represented 103 times. pic.twitter.com/mU7S4Z6Ghz
All Blacks captain Ardie Savea is en route to South Africa after his two-week rest period and the other five players - Tyrel Lomax, Will Jordan, Cam Roigard, Codie Taylor and Xavier Numia - yet to feature due to niggling injuries are largely expected to gain game time in the final pre first Test tour match against the Bulls at Loftus this weekend.
While wet conditions and a blowout result combined to diminish the worth of the Sharks fixture, the Stormers' examination of the All Blacks' maul defence and scrummaging provided ample lessons to pave the way for the Boks blueprint.
Johan Ackermann's Bulls are expected to deliver a similar, genuine contest, particularly in those areas, to ensure the All Blacks are properly attuned for the four brutal Boks battles that await Rennie's men on this gruelling tour.
"We've got a lot more in us. We can't afford to start games like we have the two games here so that will be a focus for us," Renne said after the eight-try, 54-0 rout of the Sharks in Durban.
"We've now had five games this season. We've got a better understanding of the game we're trying to play. We've shared the load and there's good competition for spots. That's really important heading into the Tests in a couple of weeks.
"We know if we can be accurate and disciplined, the ball is going to be in play a lot and we'll be able to apply pressure. Every time you turn it over or give away a penalty, you give the opposition a chance to slow the game down."
Aside from the prevailing unknown about whether the All Blacks can match the Boks physicality and gain parity at the set piece, defusing the high-ball assault is another area they must be highly accurate.
"We're building towards what we know to expect while we're over here in the Republic," All Blacks defence coach Tana Umaga said. "Areas like the kicking game is something we've got to learn and learn quick.
"We have to be very disciplined around not giving them entries into the 22 because once they're in there, they are deadly. And when they do get in there, we've got to get in front of them and we know we need more than one guy to do that, making sure we get lots of bodies around their big ball runners and slowing their ball down as much as we can.
"They get a lot of go forward from their maul and set piece. It's a style that's been very effective for them for a very long time. We know where they're coming, and they know where they're going to take us, so we've got to make sure we muscle up in those areas."
The Springboks were far from impressive in their scrappy 17-10 escape in Argentina.
Yet just as the All Blacks are shaking off rust, attempting to adjust to referees and the South African style while regularly rotating their squad, so, too, are the Boks shadow boxing before the heavyweight battle starts at Ellis Park next week.
Hurricanes centre Billy Proctor and Crusaders hooker George Bell are early tour casualties for the All Blacks, with more sure to come.
But barring any more major setbacks against the Bulls, the core of Rennie's first Test team is largely set in stone.
One more hit out against the Bulls, regardless of the result, will offer more lessons for the All Blacks to absorb.
The real rugby and, indeed, rivalry, of this tour then begins.