6 Players with a Point to Prove in Final 2 Rugby Championship Matchdays
Only two rounds of the 2014 Rugby Championship remain, with defenders New Zealand hoping to maintain their unbeaten drive by edging out Australia and South Africa to a third successive title.
Argentina are the only team who no longer have a chance of winning this year's crown—not that it ever seemed likely—but even they have a selection of stars with pressure mounting on their shoulders in particular.
Some have failed to live up to expectations thus far and others will be seen as pivotal figures in their respective nations' hopes of claiming the best finish possible as the tournament draws to a close.
1. Handre Pollard
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Heyneke Meyer has so far been adamant to trust in the abilities of potential superstar Handre Pollard in the competition, starting the youngster in three outings—Morne Steyn accounting for the other berth in Round 3.
However, "potential" remains the operative word with Pollard, who has so far failed to stand out as the killer chess piece in any of his performances, at times relying on Steyn's introductions to steady the Springboks ship.
The one advantage running in his favour over the next two games will be a home support backing him against Australia and New Zealand, but a more clinical standard is needed in all regards for him to become the leader Meyer dreams of.
Pollard's combination of athletic, direct running and keen tactical mind makes him a figure around whom squads can be built, but there remains uncertainty as to just how secure an international fly-half he is at present.
2. Malakai Fekitoa
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Ma'a Nonu's broken arm leaves a hole in the New Zealand midfield that promises to disrupt a key component of Steve Hansen's side, and Malakai Fekitoa looks the most likely figure to step in.
After a stellar season with the Highlanders, the enigmatic centre is by all means showing a capacity to replace Nonu in the long run, but this chance is a bigger bite of the cherry than he'll have been expecting.
Aaron Cruden and Conrad Smith will be less familiar with his game, and although that isn't necessarily a bad thing in the pursuit of evolution, Fekitoa is nonetheless a less assured presence in the All Blacks line-up.
That being said, he'll undoubtedly be happy to prove any doubters wrong and dictate precisely why he deserves his place at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and the stakes are high coming into the last two fixtures.
3. Israel Folau
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An outstanding 2014 Super Rugby campaign for Israel Folau created a real buzz around the Australian fullback, but also pushed the notion that he's the kind of superstar capable of leading the Wallabies onto new heights.
It's not that Ewen McKenzie's side haven't been impressive for parts of their Rugby Championship campaign thus far, but fans may have expected a few more individual highlights coming from the Waratahs maestro.
In fairness to Folau, he's already scored against New Zealand and South Africa in this year's tournament, showing that he can indeed perform against the big guns.
That being said, now is the time for McKenzie's marvel to really strut the quality that southern hemisphere rugby became so accustomed to seeing on the club scene this year, the attacking lynchpin able to scare any defence in his midst.
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4. Victor Matfield
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The stage was set for Victor Matfield's fairytale to be written this summer; the 37-year-old who only came out of retirement at the start of the year but somehow found his way back to the pinnacle of international rugby.
However, the words have been scribbled in a somewhat messy manner as the South Africa lock has been shown to be short on resources at times, evidently not the same figure he once was, conditioning being the key factor.
Granted, we may not have expected much more given his age, but the 6'6" veteran nonetheless has to be a leading man for Meyer in the two Tests to come.
His line-out presence may be as domineering as ever, but that alone isn't enough to give second-row partner Eben Etzebeth an easier time of things at this standard, especially not with the Wallabies and All Blacks to come.
5. Juan Martin Hernandez
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So far so good for "El Mago," and despite missing out on the opening fixture against South Africa, Juan Martin Hernandez has now started the last three for Argentina, staving off injury when his country needs him most.
The newly announced Toulon recruit has had a horrid time with injury in recent years, and despite never quite living up to what was expected of his career, the Pumas still count the utility back among their key men.
Daniel Hourcade has thus far started the playmaker exclusively at inside centre, where he too will hope to have whatever impact possible in the last two outings as Argentina strive for a first-ever Rugby Championship win.
In terms of changing room influence and on-pitch effect, there are few in the Argentine back line who offer as valuable a mixture, and with New Zealand and Australia to visit La Plata and Mendoza, respectively, it's ticking down to all-or-nothing time.
6. Richie McCaw
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His try against South Africa in Week 4 will have had many a New Zealand fan bristling with pride for the damage their captain is still capable of unleashing at the top level, but Richie McCaw's job is far from over.
An ever-present figure for Hansen once again as the All Blacks go in search of yet another Rugby Championship triumph, McCaw has mostly played his part beautifully from openside, albeit showing untidier shades of his game.
The breakdown discipline will always be a factor of contention concerning McCaw, even more so in his twilight years, it seems. However, one would have to agree the positives far outweigh any negatives, and his ability to lead remains as vitalised as ever.
Some might argue the player's decline is underway and that the road to retirement may be edging within sight, and rightly so. McCaw has another two fixtures to quash any such talk, and taking his All Blacks to another title would assuredly be the most effective method in doing so.
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