Those with an ear for All Black arrogance in the years between World Cups will have recognised something familiar in the farewell Steven Hansen gave the departing Welsh last week. After a none-too-convincing 2-0 series win against the side he once coached, Hansen said: "We now step up into the big boys' league."

At best it was crass, flinging unnecessary mud at a side who had done a decent job pointing up some of the areas where New Zealand, who host the World Cup in 14 months, are well short of world class. However, a scan of local newspapers revealed the intent to Hansen's remarks. In full, the All Blacks' forwards coach said: "We now step up into the big boys' league and I think we can go in there with some confidence, as long as we keep it smart and keep it simple and people do their job."

When added to the remarks of the head coach, Graham Henry, that the pre-Tri Nations camp would be "South Africa oriented" it suggested something very different. Rather than implying that they had nothing to learn from Wales – and Ireland – it revealed considerable All Black jitters ahead of Saturday's first Tri-Nations match against the current holders and world champions, South Africa.

It might even have suggested that the All Blacks have finally learned that in their case pride always seems to come before the fall, as it has done in every World Cup since the first. It happened most recently when Henry, Hansen and Wayne Smith, were humbled and lucky to keep their jobs in 2007. So soon before the next global gathering that triumvirate cannot afford to slip up again – not just for team morale, but because the All Blacks need their country firmly behind them when the taxpayer is being asked to dig deep to underwrite the costs.

All of which helps to give context to Hansen's clumsiness and to a couple of things that happened last week: the bait of 100,000 NZ dollars (£45,600) for cup-winning players, and suggestions that Hansen and Smith might soon be coaching two of the regional teams, the Highlanders and the Blues, so they do not lose touch with their players in World Cup year.

During the annual transition from June Tests to Tri Nations such events have slightly detracted from more rugby-orientated matters like naming the squad and the return of the front rowers John Afoa and Corey Flynn who were badly missed when the Welsh pack put the squeeze on.

In both Tests All Black scrummaging pride was damaged, something the Springboks will have noted and will work on now that their captain and inspiration John Smit has recognised the folly of trying to reinvent himself at tight-head prop. The world champions also have other weapons that Wales would have found useful, particularly in the second Test.

At Hamilton the All Blacks looked rattled under pressure. The pity for Wales was that they could properly apply it for only the final 20 minutes, whereas the Springboks have the kicking game, the lineout and the scramble defence to make life difficult from the first whistle.

It is something they proved last year and in most of their play since taking the world title in France three seasons ago. In Smit and lock Victor Matfield they have players who know how to win and in Morne Steyn, currently converting 89% of his kicks, a boot to give any opposition nightmares. The Boks are without the scrum-half Fourie du Preez, who is injured and Frans Steyn, who appears to have been snubbed for choosing to playing in Paris, but they have strength in depth.

With Australia suffering from injuries and the heartache of losing to England – and in Sydney – the Wallabies may be slightly peripheral to what many see as either a rehearsal for the bigger deal next year or a repeat of last year when South Africa ran away with the Tri Nations.

Memories of 2009 are enough to make All Black nerves understandable, but New Zealanders do have a couple of important straws on to which they will cling on Saturday: last year Dan Carter was injured when the Boks opened the championship with three home games. This time the world champions start on their travels while Carter is guiding the All Blacks with the kind of elegance – and accuracy – apparently beyond Hansen.