New Zealand were as close to flawless as you can get last weekend against France, but they will certainly face sterner opposition this weekend against a tenacious Springbok team that just managed to book their place in the semi-finals with a late try against Wales.
NEW ZEALAND
The All Blacks make one enforced change to their starting XV this week as injuries have resulted in an astonishing call up from obscurity to starting line-up for prop Joe Moody.
Last weekend showed just why New Zealand are ranked as the number one side in the world as they tore the French apart to banish any demons that may have been lingering from past World Cup heartache.
The worrying thing for the Springboks this week will have been that all of the Kiwis’ big game players were so prominent in their performance. Dan Carter completely controlled the game with the gloriously quick ball that his back row afforded him and the comparisons between Julian Savea and Jonah Lomu have been more than justifiable.
They will have a bigger contest at the breakdown this weekend though and they will need to be at their accurate best to open up a strong South African defence.
They will surely target the inexperience of the South African midfield as a weak point. Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith are one of the most formidable midfield combinations in the world and when you can throw Sonny Bill Williams into the mix at 60 minutes then the youthful Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende will certainly be in for a tough time.
One to watch: Nehe Milner-Skudder
Savea will be a marked man this weekend which may just release the elusive Milner-Skudder to cause some serious damage. The diminutive winger loves to come into the midfield, especially on loose, turnover ball and look for the smallest gaps to squeeze through.
He already has five tries to his name this World Cup and there is no doubt that his finishing, especially from close range, is deadly.
SOUTH AFRICA
The Springboks had a much tougher outing last weekend against Wales but what will have given them the most satisfaction is that they finally put in an 80 minute performance. Heyneke Meyer hasn’t made a single change to his starting line up from the team that defeated Wales.
During The Rugby Championship and in their first game of this World Cup, they suffered losses in the dying embers of the match having previously held the lead. This would have become a concern to the coaches leading into last week’s game, but they will hope that those jitters are behind them.
There will be key battlegrounds all over the field on Saturday but none more so than at fly-half. Handreé Pollard is a relative novice with 18 caps compared to Dan Carter’s 110, but Southern Hemisphere viewers will have seen Pollard rip defences apart with ball in hand and Carter will be fully aware of this.
Pollard’s kicking game is what can let him down and he will need to be more measured and accurate when using his boot as the back three of New Zealand can make you look very silly in the blink of an eye.
One to watch: Schalk Burger
Burger has been gargantuan for South Africa during this World Cup. He has tackled anything that moves and has sucked defenders in time and time again with the variation of his play. He carries hard but can also link play beautifully well, making him very difficult to predict.
He will need to be on top form this weekend to try and nullify the Kiwi back row. In games you like this you need your big players to step up and that is exactly what Burger has proved capable of time and again.
PREDICTION
South Africa have grown with each game as this World Cup has gone on and their big name players have stepped up to the plate when they have needed them. They have world class and potentially world class players across the park but there is also a tinge of youthful inexperience amongst their ranks.
The All Blacks are the polished, finished article though and after last weekend their confidence will be soaring. They are so dangerous with or without the ball and that will give them the edge over the Boks when it matters. New Zealand by 9
By Andy Daniel (@scrum5ive)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images