On Saturday, South Africa face New Zealand for a place in the 2015 Rugby World Cup final against one of Austrailia or Argentina. The two sides, who have won the previous two tournaments, South Africa in 2007 and New Zealand in 2011, dispatched their respective quarter-final opponents with ease last weekend.
Their tournaments so far
South Africa
South Africa began their 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign with a shock defeat in Brighton to Japan, as they failed to match the commitment and desire of the Japanese players who scored a last minute try to win. However, South Africa then returned to form, beating Samoa, Scotland and the USA in order to secure top spot in Pool B. In the quarter-finals, they came up against a Wales side heavily depleted by injuries and won 23-19.
New Zealand
New Zealand, the holders after winning the 2011 tournament, are one of two unbeaten sides remaining sides in the tournament along with Austrailia. They began their campaign with a 26-16 victory over Argentina at the Olympic Stadium and then comprehensively beat Namibia, Tonga and Georgia to ensure they qualified in top spot from Pool C. However, despite the margin of victory in their pool games, New Zealand were criticised by pundits and former players who felt they were playing well beneath what they are capable of. New Zealand responded in the best way possible, by destroying France 62-13 in their quarter-final in Cardiff.
Team news
South Africa
South Africa are unchanged from their quarter-final victory over Wales after Lood de Jager and Bismarck du Plessis both recovered from injuries they sustained in the game against Wales. The only change in the squad for South Africa is on the replacement’s bench, with Victor Matfield replacing Pieter-Steph du Toit.
New Zealand
The team news for New Zealand is that Joe Moody replaces the injured prop Wayne Crockett, after Crockett sustained an injury during the quarter-final destruction of France. Otherwise New Zealand are unchanged as they aim to reach a second consecutive final.
What the coaches have to say
New Zealand
Steve Hansen:
“We’ve put a full stop on last weekend’s performance and have been slowly building throughout the week to produce another game we can all be proud off.”
“These games have a ‘live-or-die’ nature to them and both teams will be desperate to advance.”
“The team has high expectation of itself and enjoys the big occasion.”
South Africa
Heyneke Meyer:
“This New Zealand side is probably the best team that’s ever played the game. If you look at their run after the World Cup, they’ve just got better after the previous World Cup and that doesn’t happen in world rugby.”
” It will need our best performance probably ever to beat them.”
Predictions
Have a read of our man Eric Verster’s prediction for this massive game between two heavyweights of world rugby.
