The Springboks are preparing for battle with an All Blacks pack that their forwards coach has labelled "incredible".
New Zealand will be out for revenge when they take on South Africa in Pretoria on Sunday morning (NZ time) after their loss in Wellington last month.
If the Springboks are to stand any chance of recording rare back-to-back wins over the world champions, they'll first need to establish their ascendency upfront, says Matthew Proudfoot.
"That's the importance of a scrum," said Proudfoot, a former Scotland international.
"A team that can scrum well keeps opposition flanks bound and allows a backline to attack really flat, create momentum It's the same with the maul.
"If you look at the way the All Blacks attack they use that platform really well.
"They play off the maul, make you sit at scrum time. Just ask our flanks how difficult it is to get out of scrum and defend when the tight five is asking for that extra pressure.
"That's the importance of set phase — it creates space. Everyone thinks it is just a start of a game, but it gives backs a lot of space to operate if you have good steppers and players who run good hard lines. That's when you start to cut opposition defences."
The New Zealand scrum was in dominant form against Argentina on Sunday, manhandling its opposite and laying the foundation for the 35-17 win.
Proudfoot noted the subtle, yet highly effective, variations that the All Blacks employ, including the constant changes with their angle at engagement and the timing of their shove.
Despite the praise for NZ's abilities at scrum and maul, Proudfoot believes the lineout is vulnerable, no better evidenced by their struggles in Buenos Aires.
Injuries have meant that the All Blacks' most dominant aerial trio of Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick and Kieran Read have rarely featured as a combination this season.
Proudfoot also emphasised the importance of his team nailing its selection at tighthead prop in light of the blockbusting form of All Blacks loosehead, Karl Tu'inukuafe.
"We'll have to be very smart about our selection of tighthead," Proudfoot said.
"We know the All Blacks pose a very big threat at scrum time. They are very, very good and a fantastic scrummaging unit. It's the biggest challenge, they are superb."
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