Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key undertook to outdo each other on the cricket and rugby fields after meeting in Switzerland on Thursday.
Zuma's spokesman Mac Maharaj said the topic of sport came up during a bilateral meeting on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“They expressed great pride with regards to the fact that any sporting encounter between the two nations was 'never boring',” Maharaj said.
Key apparently described South African rugby fly-half Handre Pollard as “too tall and fast”, adding that the All Blacks would keep a close watch on him.
When Key indicated that the All Blacks had been instructed to give the Springboks a hard time, Zuma replied that the New Zealanders should expect a “serious headache”.
Wellington will soon host the HSBC Sevens World Rugby Series. Australia and New Zealand will jointly host the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup next month.
Maharaj said the pair discussed a range of other issues, including the need to strengthen economic relations and trade.
Zuma congratulated Key on his country's election to the United Nations Security Council.
Sapa