Saturdays, usually relaxing affairs that consist of eating meat and general merriment. Tomorrow promises to be a different proposition altogether, the hype ahead of the World Cup semi against the might of the All Blacks reaching fever pitch.

If you haven’t already donned the gumboots and danced around your back garden now is the time, most in the know certain that wet conditions over in Twickenham will aid our boys in battle. Here’s Sport24:

There’s a 70% probability of heavy rain by the time the match kicks off and this should prove to be a leveller.

Such conditions will suit the Boks more than their counterparts, who could play themselves into trouble if they opt to run from deep in slippery conditions.

The Springboks will look to dominate the set pieces and contact situations, as well as attempt to keep the game as slow as possible.

The tactical kicking of Handre Pollard, Fourie du Preez and Willie le Roux will be of utmost importance, not to mention slotting kicks at goal.

The Kiwis will be favourites, but they’ll have to box clever if the heavens open.

Never have so many South Africans living in London wished for foul weather. Some interesting facts ahead of the clash:

Saturday’s Test match will be the 91st between the two countries. South Africa’s record against New Zealand: P: 90; W: 35; L: 52; D: 3; PF: 1 412; PA: 1 745; Win%: 39%.

South Africa have played 21 Test matches at this stadium, winning 12 and losing nine. Nineteen matches were against England. The other two were against Australia in the 1999 RWC semi-final and against Wales last Saturday.

The referee is Jérôme Garcès of France…It will be his seventh Test involving South Africa. Of the previous six Tests, South Africa won three and lost three.

Should Ruan Pienaar be used from the bench he will become South Africa’s most capped substitute. Currently, he shares the record with Ollie le Roux on 43 Test matches as a substitute.

No offence to the Ruan Pienaar fans out there, but I think I speak for most of us when I say we want Fourie playing as close to the full 80 minutes as possible. I can’t take credit for this one but Pienaar’s service from the base has been likened to Alcoholics Anonymous: 12 steps after every breakdown.

Saturday, 5PM – make it rain.

[sources:sport24&sport24]