Christophe Ena
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3 key battles that could decide today's World Cup semi-final

Will it be New Zealand or South Africa who take their place in next week’s decider?

WHILE IT WOULD never traditionally be a surprise to see South Africa in the semi-finals of a World Cup, they’ve certainly reached the last four of this instalment after a turbulent journey.

After campaigns for head coach Heyneke Meyer to be sacked before the tournament even began, a frightening injury list in the summer and lead-up to the squad announcement, and the subsequent defeat to Japan in their opening game, reaching the last four has been a noteworthy achievement for the two-time champions.

However, coming down the tracks this Saturday is an altogether greater task – New Zealand in the last four of a World Cup.

After their nine-try destruction of the French last weekend, the All Blacks are looking in ominous form as they look to defend their title, but we’ve picked out three key areas that could have a big say on which way the game goes.

Rolling Rolling Rolling

South Africa’s maul is a weapon. New Zealand’s maul defence is weak.

While the All Blacks can run in tries from everywhere and fling offloads around the corner with their eyes closed, we’ve seen in this tournament and throughout the summer that they seriously struggle with the rolling maul.

Britain Rugby WCup South Africa USA Matt Dunham Matt Dunham

Steve Hansen came out and called for World Rugby to allow teams collapse it after they conceded two tries in that vain against Argentina in the Rugby Championship, and it’s an area of their game that can really be taken advantage of.

Luckily for South Africa, that area of New Zealand weakness just happens to be one of their own strengths.

With the hugely physical Etzebeth and de Jager in the second row, the Springboks have a real presence at the lineout, and once they get the ball to the back of the maul, they’re a potent force.

Francois Louw protects the ball well at the back, and has scored three tries in the tournament, and the maul provided at least one try in each of their four pool games.

It could have a major say on this weekend’s game.

Youth vs Experience

The battle of the centre is one the looks very. very intriguing.

The All Blacks have almost 200 caps of experience in their centre pairing of Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu, but it’s a different approach for the ‘Boks, who have the 21-year-old Jesse Kriel and 23-year-old Damian de Allende in midfield.

When the sides met in the Rugby Championship this year, it was the youth that came out on top (despite New Zealand ultimately winning the game), with Kriel skinning Ma’a Nonu on the hard line for this great try.

kriel

After bursting onto the scene in the summer, Kriel has probably been a gear short during the World Cup, but as we’ve seen in his fleeting test career to date, he’s more than capable of finding the linebreaks.

However, if New Zealand can stop the South African kids, they’ve enough style to find their own gaps through the middle.

Nonu’s power and footwork, combined with Smith’s reliability have made them one of the best centre pairings in the world. This midfield battle will likely have a real say on where this game is won and lost.

All about that pace

New Zealand appeared to be heavy-legged in spells during the pool stage, but within 30 seconds of their game against France kicking off, it was clear that they kept several gears in reserve for the knockout stages.

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2015 - Quarter Final - New Zealand v France - Millennium Stadium PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

The pace that they brought to that game was frightening. They were powering through the gain line, and when you add in the constant offloading, the pace just gets quicker and quicker.

Because the All Black players know that they’re likely to have a support runner on the shoulder, these offloads aren’t speculative shovelling. Each ball carrier knows that if they pop the ball up into space, there’s a good chance they’ll have a teammate to collect it.

The key for South Africa is slowing down the New Zealand runners. By simply tackling low, they’re still giving the ball carrier time to offload, so taking man and ball is crucial to ensure they can slow down the pace of the New Zealand attack.

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