CAPE TOWN: Ali Williams summed up in three words the vibe of the New Zealand camp since the All Blacks arrived in South Africa.

"It's only Wednesday," the big lock told a journalist yesterday when asked if the All Blacks were primed to fire as they did against Australia in Auckland. "We've done our homework and things like that. We are slowly building."

The All Blacks' week started with a game of football, the players laughing and joking their way through the match. A day later, they took in the sights. Some headed to the top of Table Mountain, others to a local golf course.

Graham Henry's men are clearly timing their run.

And it's a smart tactic, considering how easy it is to be swept away by side issues and hype in a city whose population is fanatical about both rugby union and football.

Everywhere in Cape Town people have an opinion on tomorrow afternoon's Test, and are keen to share it.

About 100 journalists descended on the All Blacks' team hotel to grill the starting XV yesterday, seemingly obsessed with what they thought of the South African team. The All Blacks, of course, thought they were all world class.

Not the controversy the South African press wanted. But then they get more than enough of that from the home camp.

The Bokke, as the Afrikaans call them, have trained this week in the hectic and noisy surrounds of the coloured rugby stronghold of Ravensmead. The coaching staff have had to shout above the screams of the crowd.

The South African players were given a day off yesterday, but there was to be no rest for their coach, Peter de Villiers.

In the past few days, he has watched flanker Juan Smith head back to Bloemfontein "for personal reasons" and lock Danie Rossouw admitted briefly to hospital for an irregular heartbeat.

Yesterday, de Villiers was busy fending off the inevitable accusations of racism for selecting just four black or coloured players in his starting XV.

Fairfax Media