Boks: will it be glory or desolation?

Will South Africa be competing for World Cup glory next weekend or will they be forced to play in the third-place play-off?

This is the burning question on the lips of Springbok fans ahead of the big World Cup semifinal against Wales at Yokohama International Stadium on Sunday.

This is the second straight time the Boks have qualified for the semifinals after an agonising 2018 loss to New Zealand at the 2015 World Cup in England.

This is also the fifth time the Boks will compete in the semifinals at a World Cup after securing wins in the penultimate round in 1995 and 2007 and going down in defeats in 1999 and 2015.

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has been very realistic about the prospect of having to see their hard work over the last 18 months disappearing like a mist before the rising sun.

“Obviously we are very positive, but the reality is that if we lose on Sunday we are out and coming home, so we will have to ensure we are prepared the best way we can,” Erasmus said in the build-up to the crucial clash.

On the flip side, a Bok win could set up another final against old foes the All Blacks, which would be only the second time the two sides would contest the final after the Boks won the epic 1995 battle.

But in order for that to happen the Boks must get past Wales, while New Zealand will have to beat England, which will be a big ask.

While England edged the Boks 12-11 last season, in a match which featured the controversial no-arm tackle of Owen Farrell on Andre Esterhuizen in the dying seconds, the All Blacks managed to beat England in a narrow 16-15 victory a little less than a year ago.

That was at the end of the season for the southern hemisphere teams, however, and the start of the northern hemisphere campaign, so the situation has changed considerably.

England have also failed to beat New Zealand since 2012.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has probably given England enough motivation, however, by suggesting that the Boks remain their biggest rivals.

It is important to note, however, that the All Blacks face the Boks regularly while England have played them only once in the last six years.

The Boks would also love to prove influential Kiwi website stuff.co.nz wrong, as they continue to write off the SA side’s chances of winning the title.

According to the site, the All Blacks have a 46% chance of claiming the trophy.