RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015

You cannot trust the weather forecasts neigh as they change from hour to hour, really they do, so best is to wait for the kick off and see what its like then.

taken from The Times (UK)

oh dear can you imagine the Spainish football coach saying this before playing Germany in the semi final of a world cup?

“New Zealand are the best team that has ever played the game.”

It is the kind of statement that the All Blacks are known to put up on the wall of their team room, the kind of mantra that has inspired them to 47 victories and two draws in 52 internationals since they won the 2011 World Cup.

But this was not a declaration of dominance written by Steve Hansen or Richie McCaw, it was the assessment of Heyneke Meyer, the South Africa head coach, as he attempted to contextualise the challenge of dethroning the All Blacks in Saturday’s World Cup semi-final.

For South Africa to reach a third World Cup final, Meyer believes that they will need to produce the finest performance in their history, surpassing the 1995 World Cup final, when the Springboks stifled Jonah Lomu and stunned New Zealand to win the Webb Ellis Cup on home soil.

“I really mean this, it’s not just talk: this is the best team that has ever played the game,” Meyer said. “If you look at the last four years, after a World Cup usually there’s a decline in performance. Steve’s been there for eight years, four as assistant, and they’ve just got better after the previous World Cup, which hasn’t happened before.

“We know this must be our best performance ever if we want to beat them. For South Africa it’s probably the biggest test ever, playing the All Blacks at their best.”

New Zealand were given a game by Argentina in the opening round of the World Cup but then cruised through their pool until the quarter-final against France when they clicked into overdrive.

The skills on show at the Millennium Stadium were mesmeric at times, their front row has better hands than many international centres and they posted a record score for a World Cup knockout match, trouncing France 62-13. It was an emphatic statement.

When New Zealand arrived in London to play England in 2013 they posted a sign on the wall of the team room that read: “We are the most dominant team in the history of the world”. The All Blacks insisted at the time it was an aspiration, not a statement — but that may soon be revisited.

The Springboks, though, cannot be overawed. Meyer has named an unchanged starting line-up from the quarter-final victory over Wales, with Victor Matfield bringing 125 caps of experience to the bench. Pieter Kruger, the team psychologist, also has an important role to play.

“I’ve made mistakes as a coach in overmotivating the guys, because everyone wants to do something different against the All Blacks,” Meyer said. “If you do too much off-field then that’s where the players start to wonder.

“Don’t put too much emotion on it, just be very excited. You have to believe you can beat them. Every single game against them has gone right to the wire.”

There have been some epic battles between the two nations in recent years. In October 2013, New Zealand won a classic at Ellis Park 38-27; last year the Springboks won 27-25 on the same ground in Johannesburg when Patrick Lambie kicked a controversial late penalty goal.

Meyer and Hansen have developed a tradition that the winner buys the post-match beers. Meyer has had to put his hand in his pocket just once, but would gladly shell out again on Saturday night (although it is unclear whether he realises that Twickenham charges £6 a pint, including a souvenir cup).

“The first time I’d lost [in 2012] I was very down. Steve came over and brought me a beer,” Meyer said. “He said, ‘Listen, I know how you feel, I know the pressure on you, just have a beer with me.’ I really respect that. I think that’s great about rugby.

“We’d lost that game, the second game we played away was very close and we lost that game as well, and he came looking for me with another beer afterwards.

“He gave it to me and we started talking about his family, and his wife, and we know we’re under the same pressure. We’re proud countries. He’s got to know my family, I’ve got to know his family.

“We started a tradition. The winning coach always brings the beer now. I said the first time we beat you I’ll bring you a case of beer. So what I really respect about Steve is that after our win he took it like a man, and said, ‘I’m waiting for that beer.’ Hopefully I can give Steve a case of beers on Saturday.”

Just chatted to my mate Charlie( the one who didn't have a bet this year but has won on every world cup except one since we started, and as I wrote before the start he said the Aussies were the best team at the price) and he is adamant that the game is going to be much closer than people suspect and we are not without a big chance of upsetting the AB's. I hope he is right again!

It's going to be raining for hours before the match and during the entire match

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Just had a message from sportingbet saying they have more markets open than any other bookie for tomorrows match www.sportingbet.co.za/?affiliate=ia_za&p...8231b_34900c_20303d_

GO BOKKE !!

PROOOOOOOVIIINNNCCCCE!!!

I cannot resist the SA bookies odds on Kiwis to win by more than 10 points nor can I resist the Lions odds to win by more than 6 points.. Hope I don't get too much of a hiding!

With less than a couple hours, the nerves and excitement have increased, and I cannot wait for kick off. The braai is on, the beer is open, all that's left is for the BOKKE to bash!!!!

Green and Gold all the way!!!! GOOOOOO BOKKE!!!!!!!!!!!!

We hear a lot about our choking (particularly WC cricket) but The All Blacks choking at RWC is just as legendary,so we must keep up the pressure ........................we not out of this by any means!

Fantastic first half GO BOKKE !!