All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick rates the team’s 29-15 win over South Africa in Auckland as one of most physical matches he’s been part of.

He doesn’t expect any drop in intensity when the two sides meet again in three weeks in what could be the Rugby Championship decider and it’s the Springboks who have home advantage.

“It’s awesome to play in a stadium in New Zealand that’s full of black, but it’s the complete opposite over there and it’s a hostile atmosphere,” he said.

“We’re expecting to face what they brought here and maybe another step up.”

The 22-year-old Retallick was one of the stand-outs at Eden Park, getting a big pat on the back from All Blacks coach Steve Hansen for the way he “owned the park” despite his youth.

“We talked during the week that we needed to set the tone and not take a backward step,” Retallick said.

“If they got the upper hand, then the momentum might have been the other way, so we really put a big emphasis to stop it and kill it as best we could.”

There was a special personal moment for Retallick midway through the first half, when he grabbed the first try of his 17-Test career.

“It was pretty awesome to get that one under the belt,” he said, even if it led to a cut around an eye from a clash of heads after Chiefs teammate Sam Cane raced in to celebrate with him.

The bonus-point victory at Eden Park lifted New Zealand to the top of the table and a four-point lead over second-placed South Africa after four rounds.

It also maintained the All Blacks’ 100 per cent record in the four-nation tournament, after their 6-0 sweep in taking out the inaugural title in 2012.

It was a streak Retallick said they were out to maintain, despite being on the road for the last two rounds.

They face Argentina in La Plata on September 28, before going on to Johannesburg.