Feisty Faf looks forward to clash with slippery Smith on Saturday: 'It's back to business'

In Mbombela

Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk is licking his lips at the prospect of clashing with New Zealand's crack halfback Aaron Smith.

Smith may have been supplanted as the world's best scrumhalf by France's rising tyro Antoine Dupont, but he remains one of the most dangerous customers in his position in World Rugby.

De Klerk, who by starting Saturday's first Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand in his hometown of Mbombela, will get another shot at Smith.

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De Klerk acknowledged Smith's excellence and the role he'll play in any good the All Blacks will do when they meet on Saturday.

"We've become friends off the field, but once we're on the field, it’s back to business," De Klerk said.

"He's one of their key players and he's vastly experienced. That makes him unbelievably successful in what he wants to do.

"There's a lot to learn from him; it's always good to learn from one of the best players in the world."

Ireland's physical dominance in defence and on the gain-line in their 2-1 series win hampered Smith's output.

The Boks may have taken note of this, but De Klerk said they've devised their own ways to counter the rugby kung-fu the All Blacks may have planned.

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Step du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Trevor Nyakane

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Willie le Roux

"The important thing is that