South Africa vs. New Zealand: 5 Key Battles in 2015 Rugby Championship Game

A desperate South Africa side will hope to inject some much-needed life into their 2015 Rugby Championship campaign this Saturday as they play host to reigning champions New Zealand.

The Springboks fell to Australia 24-20 in their tournament opener, while the All Blacks glided past Argentina with a 39-18 victory as they go in search of a fourth successive Rugby Championship crown.

Two of the southern hemisphere's biggest powers will be desperate for maximum points in Johannesburg, where a win not only translates to better silverware hope, but a smoother preparation for this year's World Cup.

We've outlined a selection of key battles likely to decide the outcome of the match, where a new-look Springboks lineup is looking to mesh under pressure.

1. JP Pietersen vs. Julian Savea

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Julian Savea returns to the All Blacks squad this weekend following his post-Super Rugby final break.

And the unenviable responsibility of being the first man to mark "The Bus" goes to JP Pietersen, who's hoping his side will be able to enjoy more time on the ball when they return to home soil.

The Springboks struggled tremendously to find width against Australia, which is hardly a surprise considering they had just 39 percent of possession, with Pietersen carrying for just 11 metres from five runs.

Fellow winger Bryan Habana didn't fare much better, and between them, Heyneke Meyer's wide men made a total of 23 metres, but on the plus side they missed just one tackle combined—that fell under Pietersen's watch.

Waisake Naholo's broken leg means New Zealand will welcome Savea back not only with experimentation in mind, but also needing the prolific figure who finished the 2014 Rugby Championship as top try-scorer (four).

If Round 1's fixtures were anything to go by, South Africa must ensure their ball retention sees major improvement. The All Blacks' weapons boast a lot more firepower than the Wallabies, and Savea will be only too glad to punish Pietersen's shortcomings.

2. Francois Louw vs. Jerome Kaino

Themba Hadebe/Associated Press

The South African pack is in a slight state of disarray at present, having come into this tournament with a number of injuries only to see Marcell Coetzee and Schalk Burger pick up knocks against the Australians.

Francois Louw also needed a blood sub to stitch him up during the game, and Meyer will need one of his most dogged figures playing as though nothing's wrong against the All Blacks.

That's usually the case if any player hopes to come out alive from a head-on collision with All Blacks flanker Jerome Kaino, who looks to be one of the first names on the teamsheet as far as Hansen will be concerned.

As Opta's Russ Petty pointed out, New Zealand's current back row are really in sync, with Kaino, Richie McCaw and Kieran Read having started 27 Tests together.

Springboks terrier Louw can't call upon that same familiarity with his immediate team-mates, and so there's a much greater emphasis on the Bath star alone to win his team possession on the floor and otherwise.

3. Jesse Kriel vs. Conrad Smith

Associated Press

Conrad Smith (left).

The only thing that could have made Jesse Kriel's dazzling international debut any more special would have been to actually win the match and seal the four points, but it doesn't make his display any less impressive.

One wouldn't guess the 21-year-old was taking his first steps in the Test arena judging by how he ghosted past Israel Folau and Nick Phipps, but he encounters an icon of the sport much more seasoned come Saturday.

At the other end of his career, Conrad Smith should come back into the New Zealand XV to partner Hurricanes team-mate Ma'a Nonu in midfield, forming the same centre partnership that terrorised so much of Super Rugby in 2015.

Kriel may have found Tevita Kuridrani and Adam Ashley-Cooper vulnerable to the break, but the backs named in Hansen's squad for the South Africa Test missed a grand total of just one tackle against the Pumas.

Smith is as solid as they come in the international forum and is regarded as one of the best 13s in the world for a reason. Kriel presents an intriguing prospect with blistering acceleration to make for an exciting duel.

4. Eben Etzebeth vs. Brodie Retallick

Schalk van Zuydam/Associated Press

With a combined age of just 47, here's to hoping there will be many more clashes between Eben Etzebeth (23) and Brodie Retallick (24), who are already considered staples of their respective teams despite their young ages.

Retallick succeeded in winning last year's IRB Player of the Year award, while Springboks lock Etzebeth had to settle for a mere nomination in 2013, nevertheless a clear indicator of the elite pedigree they each share.

However, while the New Zealand second-rower may win the accolade battle, Etzebeth looks the more dangerous figure based on recent form.

A fortnight ago, the Stormers star grabbed his first-ever international try against a World XV, and he swiftly followed up that performance with his second try against the Wallabies last Saturday.

Victor Matfield's potential absence for South Africa opens up a possible weak spot for New Zealand to exploit at the set piece, with Meyer needing Etzebeth more so now than ever to rise into his role as pack leader.

5. Willie Le Roux vs. Ben Smith

Arguably one of Ben Smith's best-ever performances in New Zealand colours came last year in a 14-10 win over South Africa. It was a shining example of how a winger doesn't need to score tries to be exemplary in the job.

However, having fired the Highlanders to Super Rugby success this season, it's more than likely "The Ghost" reclaims the No. 15 jersey on Saturday in time for a toe-to-toe with Springboks counterpart Willie Le Roux.

Le Roux will be fighting to forget the memories of a crucial mistake against the Wallabies last weekend that eventually led to their first try, allowing them to claim a foothold in their comeback victory.

As his display at Westpac Stadium last year illustrated, Smith can look defensively impenetrable at times. His reading of the game is superb, not to mention bringing an refreshingly unselfish approach to the running game.

Between the two full-backs, Smith and Le Roux differ massively in style to make for a tantalising contest, and one might argue South Africa need their star to make the bigger impact individually if they're to prevail. 

All statistics come courtesy of ESPN Scrum.