The Springboks hope not to be stung late again by an All Blacks side they say are the fittest in world rugby.

South African coach Heyneke Meyer is wary of the finishing power of their opponents in Saturday’s Test in Wellington.

His men were overrun in the final quarter of the pulsating Test in Johannesburg when the teams last met 11 months ago.

New Zealand won 38-27 in rock hard conditions at Ellis Park, a contrast to the cold, damp weather forecast this time.

Either way, Meyer hopes his team have adapted their style enough to match the lung-busting methods of the world champions.

“The days have gone by when South Africa can out-muscle them because the game is just too quick and there’s too much running,” he said.

“We’ve fallen behind in our conditioning. At Ellis Park we tried to out-run them but we weren’t fit enough so they came back.”

Meyer says he is envious of New Zealand’s central contract system in which the provinces and Super Rugby teams all work towards helping the All Blacks.

That contrasts to South Africa, where the players are employed by their Super Rugby teams, whose motives are generally self-centred.

New Zealand teams adopt the same training methods and timeline, which serves to deliver a fit, healthy squad to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, Meyer said.

“Their guys, when they start Super Rugby, they’re never as fit as us.

“But when they get to the Championship they’re in superb condition.”

New Zealand flanker Steven Luatua, making his first start of the year, was only promoted by Hansen after boosting his fitness levels.

The 23-year-old says it has felt as if the All Blacks have lifted their intensity in the closing stages of the 12 Tests he has played.

“In the last 10 minutes, that’s where we almost set ourselves apart.”

A fifth successive win over the Springboks will give the All Blacks a near-impregnable lead in the Rugby Championship with two rounds to play.

They have won all 15 Tests in the four-nation tournament since Argentina were introduced in 2012.