The All Blacks take on the Boks on Saturday afternoon London time. Here are five reasons why the South Africans could pull off an upset victory.
1) Meyer knows how to play mind games
Heyneke Meyer has already started doing his job – trying to upstage the mighty Kiwis as early as he can with mind-games. He said, “Usually after the World Cup there’s a decline in performance but they just got better, which just doesn’t happen in world rugby.”
“For South Africa it’s probably the biggest test ever, playing the All Blacks at their best.”
Meyer is fully conscious that simply trying to defeat the All Blacks on the field, the same team which thrashed France 62-13, is an improbable reality.
He wants to take the attention away from media speculations and wants his side to focus on just their business.
2) Meyer seems to have realised his mistakes
“I want the players to be very, very excited, but I don’t want to put too much emotion on it. I’ve learnt from my mistakes. Everyone wants to try something different against the All Blacks, but it’s more important to go out on the field and do what you’re meant to do.”
The Springboks have to ensure that they don’t get carried away by the prospect and the pressure of resurrecting their record, which as of now looks too one-sided.
So far, they have done well but facing the #1 team in such a sparkling form is an entirely different prospect.
3) South Africa can play under pressure and eke out narrow wins
The win against Wales was one such instance. South Africa and their skipper Fourie Du Preez showed exemplary patience and calmness to score the final point to seal a semi-final spot.
The Springboks have endured a roller-coaster tournament, but it might just turn out to be the thing that gives them the chance. They know how to dominate (against USA), they know how costly last-ditch mistakes can be (against Japan) and lastly they know how to eke out narrow wins (against Wales).
4) The Springboks are perhaps the only side to trounce the All-Blacks
Though some suggest the Wallabies are the closest of the Kiwis’ rivals but for many Kiwis the men from Africa are the ones they want to beat most.
The All Blacks may be nervous and will have plenty of pressure on them as the tournament favourite.
5) The heartbreak from the Cricket World Cup might inspire the Springboks
Who can forget the semi-final heartbreak, the streaming eyes, the comforting arms and desperate disillusion of the AB De Villiers-led Proteas in Auckland?
They left it all out on the field but harsh reality and a stronger opposition buried their heart and hope. So for the du Preez-led Springboks, they could save the hurt pride of South African sport.
wardad
Guest
Bwahahahaha thats like 'Mean Girls ' nasty NB !
Eduardo Kawak
Guest
I don't think these are strong enough reasons. Here's my five: 1. Bismarck or any of the back row can to do another Eden Park on Carter. 2. The backs actually know how to run - and can be pretty good when they do. 3. The boks are reasonably good at scrums, line outs, kick-chase and have a pretty mean driving maul. All useful weapons. 4. Anything can happen in a knockout game. Pressure changes things. Boks know how to apply pressure. 5. All Blacks have off days - occasionally.
Not Bothered
Guest
True, New Zealand is a beautiful place. It has mountains, much like Japan. It has a land mass similar to Japans. It is on the Pacific Rim, like Japan. It has hot pools, Japan does too. It beats SA at rugby, just like Japan. 505.
Vic
Guest
Meyer would be reading from notes because he's not a comfortable English speaker. And he's not capable of so called mind games. The man is an open book. As innocent as a babe in the woods.
Jerry
Guest
1 - Meyer's mind games are transparent and no one is falling for them. Hansen's already called him on it. 2 - Yeah, fair enough. 3 - How many times have they failed to do so against NZ in the last few years though? Both teams can do it, one clearly does it better. 4 - When did this Bok side 'trounce' the AB's though? One win in 4 years to a late penalty. There hasn't been a dominant Bok win since 09. 5 - Cause all those other times the Proteas didn't win the Cricket WC provided sufficient motivation? The Boks are well capable of beating NZ, despite the one sided overall record since 2011 most games have been very close. But you're reaching with this list.
Not Bothered
Guest
Im not sure that Arg is soft. I think they will make the final. Also, NZ is a team that kicks arguably the most, usually more than SA. They play smart rugby, play in the right areas and are able to make turnovers count. SA will not want to turn the ball over without forcing a SP.
WEST
Roar Guru
Your 5 reasons sound more like wishful thinking than anything else. The SA pool was also relatively easy, like the All Blacks, they've had soft teams to prepare against... So this will be the first real test for both teams since the RC so anything could happen. The Bok strength is in their forward pack to dominate, they'll need structure with set piece organisation and quality territory kicking...The Bok template. The All Blacks are the opposite they thrive off broken play fast ball movement and lots of running. The battle of the two styles, comes down to who can win the contest over the ball and maintain the momentum. The Boks have to be prepared for a marathon - 80 minutes of running. The bench will play a huge part in the final quarter for both teams. These tests are brutal, if the All Blacks match the physical approach of the Springboks then it will be a long night for South Africa.
Amrit
Roar Guru
Well thnx a lot for all of your comments and critics, certainly appreciative
Marty
Guest
Except for the fact that there are very strong elements of truth in what Henry was saying. Wales were unlucky to lose with a couple of brain snaps, one at the 3 minute mark with a bombed try and the second near the end with Cuthbert leaving the FDP unmarked and it was all over. This Welsh team who lost to England and Australia. Saying that however I think it'll be close for 70 minutes with the AB's to pull away and would never write them off. I would seriously doubt that Henry is motivated to make his reign look better.
Peter Robinson
Roar Rookie
6) A ridiculously ill-timed and ill-conceived article written by Graham Henry on the eve of the semi-final. Its almost as if he doesn't want the AB's to win, so as to make his reign look better. He says the Bok's are unimpressive and in decline, and the AB's are probably the best they have ever been...oh famous last words. What an idiot.
Sharkies
Guest
Whats this "Nu Zullund" ?
rick page
Guest
Sorry mate none of those reasons make sense 1 Meyer was reading from notes, you can see them in his hand when he goes into the room and he constantly looks down to them, totally telegraphed and a bit desperate, ad lib Hansen goes in and deftly deflects the palaver 2 He hasn't realised his mistakes, unless he's prepared to surprise us and play the open game they used to beat the AB's last year. The BOK's do tough well but the AB's can match that and then win thru greater mobility,counter attack superiority and higher fitness levels at the death. The only times the AB's lose on physicality, as against the WB's earlier this season, is when they don't turn up fully committed. It's a WC semi so AB's will be up for it and they certainly expect a big physical challenge because its the BOK's. The BOKs could only surprise the AB's tommorow by playing expansively but Meyer doesn't seem comfortable taking this team that way and its a bit late now, though BOK's would beat AB's and certainly WB's, more often if they embraced that style of play in future because they have the backline talent to convert the dominant forward power 3 play under pressure and eke out narrow wins- thats the AB's, much more so than the BOK's since the last WC 4 Over 90 odd games, I don't think the BOKs have ever beaten the ABs by more than 13 points but AB s have put some big ones on BOKs including 52-16 - in Pretoria 5 Might inspire ABs to beat WB's in final!
soapit
Guest
that can no longer be denied
Haha, Englishmen, Scots, Welshmen, Irishmen etc :D
Amrit
Roar Guru
Well actually it is tough to find more positives especially from a side which has recently suffered perhaps the greatest ever Rugby shock against Japan. So it is more about their attitude and the exposure that might give them the edge
Charl
Guest
Hi Beeb, little does he know Japan is the least of our problems, hey - a little distraction at most........what do you call fifteen men watching the semi finals? :)
It is all he has Charl, maybe someday there will be something worth more to hold on to ;)
Charl
Guest
An Indian fan of the Boks - great. I hope you're right mate, but I'm dubious. I suggest Bismarck shadow Carter closely. And Heyneke take a chill pill. And we start praying. It's true that we sometimes pull a miracle out of the hat. But even the staunchest Bok fan would be lying if they said they were confident
Charl
Guest
One track minded, much, old bothered. You must have mentioned the word Japan about 500 times in the last few weeks. Nu Zullund is a beautiful country, mate, you should get out more. Do a bit of sight seeing. Or tramping. Or mountain climbing. Or canoeing. You will ruminate less.
Yeah, probably not, but it is also known that in 2019 Japan will host the RWC ;)