World Cup showdown brings out old All Black-Springbok rivalry

The All Blacks and Springboks clash again in rugby union's biggest rivalry on Saturday when New Zealand speed takes on South African muscle in a World Cup semi-final at Twickenham.

Their coaches, Steve Hansen and Heyneke Meyer, have been playing mind games all week but now it gets serious -- a battle of wits between All Black skipper Richie McCaw and his Springbok counterpart Fourie du Preez, a race to get into the record books featuring New Zealand wing Julian Savea and South Africa flyer Bryan Habana.

Savea and Habana share the record with New Zealand legend Jonah Lomu for the number of tries in a single World Cup -- eight. Habana is also level with Lomu for the overall World Cup record, 15.

Something is likely to give in only the fourth World Cup encounter -- including the epic 1995 final won by the Springboks -- between the two sides who have dominated rugby over the past century.

While there will be plenty of forward strength on show, the 91st meeting between the union superpowers could be decided by rival scrum-halves Aaron Smith and du Preez.

Smith will hope his bullet pass can keep play moving at a frenetic pace to suit the All Blacks' lethal back three trio of Savea, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Ben Smith, with speed off the bench allowing the All Blacks to maintain a high tempo for the full 80 minutes.

Du Preez, the Springboks' master tactician, will work off the opposite plan, keeping the ball close for Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger and the rest of a heavy pack to relentlessly ram their way forward.

"It's not about smash and bash like other positions can be," said Aaron Smith of being a scrum-half. "It's more about how you get your team around the park and we've identified (du Preez) as a key figure in their team."

Despite the forecast rain, the All Blacks are unlikely to deviate from their running game in a match to decide who faces the winners of Sunday's match between Australia and Argentina in the final.

- Japan brake Springbok game -

Had it not been for their shock 34-32 defeat by Japan in their tournament opener, South Africa -- like defending champions New Zealand and Australia bidding to become the first side to win a third World Cup -- might also have opted for a free-flowing style.

Instead, they reverted to the forward-orientated rugby that has been bred into them for generations.

They picked off Samoa, Scotland, United States and Wales on their road to the final four as their big ball-carriers hammered away close to the ruck.

Meanwhile a talented back-line featuring Handre Pollard, like New Zealand's Dan Carter an attacking fly-half, powerful midfielders Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel and two fine finishers in Habana and JP Pietersen has been under-utilised.

"The last two or three games they've played a game that suits them historically and they've done it very well," said New Zealand assistant coach Ian Foster of the Springboks' 'back to basics' tactics, while All Blacks No 8 Kieran Read added: "They're certainly pretty forward-orientated in how they approach things."

New Zealand, as befits a side who have lost just three out of 52 matches since winning the 2011 World Cup pride themselves on their ability to pull away at the end.

South Africa experienced this during a Rugby Championship match in Johannesburg three months ago when they led 20-17 until the final five minutes, only for the All Blacks to win 27-20 with a converted McCaw try and a Lima Sopoaga penalty.

Nine All Blacks and 11 Springboks who ran out for that match at Ellis Park in July will start at Twickenham, with France's Jerome Garces again the referee.

If Saturday's game remains close at the end and a drop-goal is needed, South Africa can take heart from the fact that Pollard has been successful twice so far in the tournament, while Carter's sole attempt against France was charged down.
Source: AFP