South Africa vs. NZ: Preview, Live Stream, TV Info for Rugby World Cup 2015 SF
The Rugby World Cup 2015 semi-finals get off to an extravagant start on Saturday as defending champions New Zealand take on their most difficult game of the competition so far in the shape of South Africa.
The Springboks come to London's Twickenham having pulled off a last-minute win over Wales at the same venue, and coach Heyneke Meyer has named an unchanged XV as he looks to replicate that feat.
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All Blacks counterpart Steve Hansen might have done the same were it not for the groin injury prop Wyatt Crockett suffered in the 62-13 hammering of France, with Joe Moody coming in as his replacement.
While Saturday's matchup is certainly an upgrade compared to what New Zealand have faced of late, the same can be said for the Springboks as they enter their first fixture as clear underdogs.
Meyer has masterminded just the one victory against Hansen's side, a 27-25 defeat at the climax of the 2014 Rugby Championship, where then-crowned winners New Zealand might have been lacking in motivation.
There will be no such issue in England's capital this weekend, though, and just a single step sits between the two teams and a place opposite either Argentina or Australia in the Rugby World Cup 2015 final.
Read on for a match preview ahead of Saturday's showcase, along with viewing information, form guide and discussion of which key players to watch out for.
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 4 p.m. BST/11 a.m. ET/(Sunday, Oct. 25) 12 a.m. AEST/4 a.m. NZDT
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Live Stream: ITV Player (UK), Universal Sports (U.S.), Fox Sports (AUS), Sky Go (NZ), SuperSport (SA)
TV Info: ITV (UK), Fox Sports 2 (AUS), Sky Sport 1 (NZ), SuperSport 1 (SA)
Team Lineups
South Africa: 15. Willie le Roux, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Handre Pollard, 9. Fourie du Preez (C), 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Schalk Burger, 6. Francois Louw, 5. Lood de Jager, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai Mtawarira
New Zealand: 15. Ben Smith, 14. Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13. Conrad Smith, 12. Ma’a Nonu, 11. Julian Savea, 10. Daniel Carter, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Kieran Read, 7. Richie McCaw (C), 6. Jerome Kaino, 5. Samuel Whitelock, 4. Brodie Retallick, 3. Owen Franks, 2. Dane Coles, 1. Joe Moody
| October 17, 2015 | New Zealand 62-13 France |
| October 9, 2015 | New Zealand 47-9 Tonga |
| October 2, 2015 | Georgia 10-43 New Zealand |
| September 24, 2015 | Namibia 14-58 New Zealand |
| September 20, 2015 | Argentina 16-26 New Zealand |
| October 17, 2015 | South Africa 23-19 Wales |
| October 7, 2015 | South Africa 64-0 United States |
| October 3, 2015 | Scotland 16-34 South Africa |
| September 26, 2015 | Samoa 6-46 South Africa |
| September 19, 2015 | Japan 34-32 South Africa |
Key Players to Watch
Handre Pollard
It's difficult to believe that little over a year go, Handre Pollard was picking up the 2014 IRB Young Player of the Year award, booming from starlet phenomenon to senior Springbok figure in no time at all.
This has been emphasised by the fact Saturday's No. 10 counterpart and New Zealand stalwart Dan Carter is more than aware of the threat his opposite number poses, per SA Rugby Magazine's Jon Cardinelli:
"Pollard is a fantastic player. He’s shown what he can do at this level in a short space of time.
He’s extremely talented, and what I really like about him is that he takes the ball to the line. He has a great running game and also has a good head on his shoulders. He reads the game well.
There are a few players there who won the U20 World Championship, and there are also a lot of guys with experience. The way they’ve bounced back since the loss to Japan, they’re very dangerous. Sometimes you learn more from your losses than your victories.
"
Perhaps for no South Africa player is that sentiment more applicable than to 21-year-old Pollard, who will face Carter in their first Test meeting this Saturday, a startling contrast in international experience.
Pollard is by no means the finished article just yet. Some creaks were evident against Wales, but a well-taken drop goal in that encounter showed a calm head under pressure, per commentator Brett McKay:
That frustrating defence is likely to haunt the Springboks again this weekend, making it possible Pollard may again be called upon to take aim from the pocket, a gargantuan responsibility for one so young.
The experience of returned captain Fourie du Preez has been of huge help to the emerging South Africa staple, but now Meyer needs the perfect display from his prodigious puppeteer Pollard.
| South Africa Win | 1-4 |
| Draw | 25-1 |
| New Zealand Win | 7-2 |
| New Zealand Winning by 1-5 Points at HT | 7-2 |
Richie McCaw
Twickenham will bear witness to Richie McCaw earning his 147th New Zealand cap on Saturday, but there's no rest for the wicked—even those as wicked as he—with South Africa coming to town.
This will be McCaw's 20th clash against the Springboks, and what makes his particular challenge so enticing is the breakdown duel that lies ahead:
Along with the likes of Francois Louw and Schalk Burger, McCaw also has Bismarck du Plessis and Eben Etzebeth taking aim at him, players moulded like the archetypes in their respective positions, almost secondary back-rowers.
Experience is a term often brought up when speaking of McCaw, and opposing openside Burger is quoted by Planet Rugby's Ben Coles, (correctly) guessing just how his cap record sizes up to McCaw's win record:
Regardless of who their opponents are in the final, there's a strong possibility this Springboks team are the biggest threat to New Zealand's title, having responded tremendously to the opening defeat against Japan.
We won't sully McCaw's good name by suggesting the veteran "must give 100 per cent" or any other such nonsense—that much is a given—but the main query is whether his power to lead by example is still potent enough.
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