All Blacks behemoth Scott Barrett heaps praise on Springbok set-piece

The world champions were soundly beaten in the opener, but rallied to win the final three Tests to claim the inaugural trophy. During those victories, the Boks leaned on their dominant scrum, powerful maul and accurate lineout to batter the visitors.

Barrett missed the Tour due to surgery and rehabilitation, but admitted he was riding the waves of emotion  just like the whole of New Zealand during the watershed series.

"I watched those Tests as a fan, like the rest of everyone back here, you sort of ride the emotions of results," the lock told Rugby Pass.

"I think the set piece is probably an area where they [South Africa] work themselves back into the game.

"Critical moments, they were able to get up the field through scrum penalties on their ball, and you know their DNA. They lent on it and fed into other areas of their game, which is their maul, and that's been a strength for them for a long time.

"So probably those couple of areas as a tight forward, you sort of feel for the boys over there that were put under pressure and you know come away off the back of a series loss. So probably those two [areas] are keen interests of mine."

Barrett is set to make his return against the Wallabies at fortress Eden Park in Auckland at Bledisloe 1 on Saturday. Given their perennial rivals are coming off a victory over the Springboks, Barrett is taking nothing for granted.

"You know they beat South Africa, so we're fully on alert for what's coming this week, and you know as a team, we've already addressed a few things on where we need to get better, as you allude to around the scrum," he added.

"It's not until you sort of see it on the grass and you make those shifts and turn them into habits. So, like anything, it's not an overnight fix, and we'll have to work pretty hard this week and going forward."

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