With so much focus on the battle of the back rows, it could be the men behind those three who determine who lifts the William Web Ellis trophy.
Will Genia, in probably his last game in a Wallaby shirt, against the electrifying Aaron Smith.
Genia has shown us during this world cup what a big-game player he is. The running game might have gone, but few would argue he is in the form of his career.
His passing, game management and cover defence have been superb. The play he made to set up Bernard Foley’s second try against England said it all.
But there are some chinks.
I don’t mean to nit-pick but in a game that could come down to one or two plays, there isn’t much room for error.
His box kicking has been mixed, including a few charge downs. Also a worry has been his playing of the whistle.
While appealing for a penalty, Fiji’s Ben Volavola cut through the area Genia should have been covering to cross under the posts. Wales too, almost scored in the opening minutes of the Pool A decider when Welsh half, Gareth Davies, pinched the ball from under Genia’s nose.
Make those mistakes against Aaron Smith and the game could be gone.
Smith is a master of pressuring the base of the scrum. That annoying yappy terrier that just makes life difficult.
Think back to the Super Rugby semi-final between the Waratahs and Highlanders, when he scored off an intercept from Wycliff Palu at the base of the scrum.
The pace, the pass – there is so much in his armoury.
One of his greatest weapons is the quick tap. He used it to score against the Wallabies in that heart-breaking 28-29 loss in 2014 and will always look to put defences on the back foot.
Genia has fallen foul of the referees twice this tournament by not retreating the 10 metres, once resulting in a yellow against Wales.
Smith and the All Blacks coaching staff with have seen this. Let’s hope Will is ready.
Where there’s a Will, there’s a way.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
The forward absolutely flattened Tane Edmed just weeks after he did a similar hit on Queensland's Tom Lynagh - and Chiefs Assistant Coach David…
The Waratahs’ finals hopes are dangling by a thread after suffering their seventh loss of the year, as they went down to a strong…
The men in blue were trying not to let their opponents get away with niggling tactics.
Etene Nanai-Seturo was yellow-carded for a high tackle, and just as he was about to come back on, Tupou Vaa'i was sent to the…
Tane Edmed was lining up a shot at goal when he was informed that the officials got the mark wrong. The Waratahs instead changed…
Samipeni Finau was able to continue without even a penalty, after the TMO deemed it a legal tackle much to the Tahs' fans disgust.
