Semi Final Preview: New Zealand

As the All Blacks prepare for a mighty tie with rivals South Africa, we reveal why Dan Carter is a new man, how the players spend spare time and why one coach will be buying the beers. And as is Savea the greatest?

There’s enormous respect in the All Blacks for South Africa, but when they play at Twickenham there won’t be any fear of the unknown.

From being a great, mysterious rival for 70 years, professional rugby meant that from 1996 the two sides have become as close as any opposing test teams can. But don’t take that as meaning the semi-final won’t be as brutally physical as the game can get.

The All Blacks’ attacking mindset, flagged by the selection of no reserve lock for the quarter-final with France, continues into this semi-final. Once again coach Steve Hansen has chosen Victor Vito and Sam Cane for the bench, and will rely on Keiran Read or Jerome Keino to go to lock if needed.

Relying on Experience

The squad is the most experienced to ever play for the All Blacks, with a total of 1318 test caps amongst them.

Of those, eight players are the most capped All Blacks in their positions: Richie McCaw, Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Jerome Kaino, Keiran Read, Daniel Carter, Ma’a Nonu, and Conrad Smith.

Who’s buying the beers?

The relationship between Hansen and Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is strong but both know that by the end of the day on Saturday one of them will be buying the drinks.

The pair are used to competing against each other and after South Africa’s shock loss to Japan in the pool matches, one of the first messages of support Meyer received was from Hansen.

In fact they now have a deal where whoever’s team wins a test has to shout the beer for the other. “I hope to buy (Steve) a case on Saturday,” said Meyer during the week.

Hansen’s All Blacks also make a point of inviting the team they’ve just played into their changing shed. Little spoken of is the fact the Boks have always accepted the invitation, but the Wallabies never have.

Movie Buffs

What have the giants of rugby been doing in their spare time? One All Black management team member burst out laughing when asked that question.

“Don’t quote my name but they’re very boring,” he said. “The Canterbury boys have a card school, and endlessly play euchre and 500. The most exciting thing the rest do is go to the movies.”

Top of the list so far has been, naturally, ‘Everest’, the drama based on the Kiwi climbing guide Rob Hall, who died on the mountain rather than leave a client behind. The Matt Damon sci-fi thriller ’The Martian’ is also a popular choice.

So if you were at a movie theatre in the Weybridge area, where the All Blacks stayed during the week, and a group of very large men in casual gear turned up, there’s a fair chance you were brushing shoulders with the All Blacks.

And how might they celebrate if they win on Saturday? How about watching the new James Bond film “Spectre”, which opens on October 26…

Less is more

The revival of Dan Carter’s form and goal kicking has been a vital asset for the All Blacks and it will be even more important if they’re to beat the Boks.

And it can be put down to two factors: mind and body.

Back coach Ian Foster has had a couple of fatherly talks with Carter, basically telling him to play like he did when he was a kid, trusting his own instincts. Meanwhile, trainer Nic Gill and Carter agreed that 15 stone was more weight than he needed. On Saturday Carter will run out at about 14st 7lb.

Jonah and Jules

The stunning trio of tries from Julian Savea against France has sparked comparisons with the great Jonah Lomu.

Savea himself was horrified at the suggestion he’d overtaken his boyhood idol, but Lomu’s 1995 All Black coach Laurie Mains said he felt Savea was a more complete player. That may be true, but in rugby history there will only ever be one Lomu – because of how much he revolutionised rugby.

He was the first All Black to have a story written about him in ‘Time’ magazine. In New York, billionaire media tycoon Rupert Murdoch saw him on television and told his man negotiating a $US555 million rugby television deal: “We’ve got to have that guy.”

Savea is a great player. Lomu changed the game.

Closing in on records

Dan Carter is poised to overtake Grant Fox as the top All Black points scorer in the history of the World Cup this weekend, while Julian Savea is also chasing down a record of his own.

Fox, now an All Black selector and here with the team, will be watching on as his 170 points - scored in tournaments in 1987 and 1991 - comes under threat. With 53 points at this Cup, Carter is now second to Fox, just eight points behind.

Fox is also the only All Black to score more than 100 points at a single Cup, with 126 in 1987 – but with only two matches to go (this semi and either a final or 3rd/4th play-off), catching that is a massive ask for Carter.

Meanwhile, Savea drew level with Lomu and Bryan Habana for the number of tries in one tournament. All three have eight – but with Savea and Habana both playing in this semi, that record is surely going to go.

For Habana, an even greater target is in sight as one try would put him past Lomu’s all-time World Cup record total of 15.

Heroes and Loved Ones

Support for the All Blacks this week has come from two very diverse quarters.

Victoria Cross winner Willie Apiata, who was given the honour for extraordinary bravery in Afghanistan in 2004, was spotted by a keen eyed photographer at a training session.

In the words of his citation he carried a grievously wounded comrade ‘across 70 metres of broken, rocky and fire swept ground, fully exposed in the glare of battle to heavy enemy fire and into the face of returning fire.’ He’s no stranger to the All Blacks, having his first inspirational talk with them at the 2011 Cup.

On a lighter note, social media was abuzz with wives and girlfriends tweeting photos of private outings on the All Blacks’ Wednesday rest day.

Malakai Fekitoa’s girlfriend, Caroline McNaught, posted an Instagram snap of the pair on the London Eye. She wrote: “Best day with this little cutie.”