History tells All Blacks coach Steve Hansen that this weekend's encounter against South Africa was always going to be huge.

The test in Yokohama to open their respective Rugby World Cup campaigns will be the 99th meeting between the storied rugby rivals.

Newstalk ZB Rugby Editor Nigel Yalden told Simon and Phil the atmosphere is picking up on the ground in Japan, but temperatures have been consistently high in the lead up to the opening matches.

LISTEN ABOVE