Five points to ponder

Passionate haka: The New Zealand haka always adds a bit of theatre to any rugby match. But when the opponents on the other side of the halfway line are the Springboks, it tends to be a little bit more dramatic.

Expect the All Blacks to haul out the KapaOPango haka. It’s the one they use for special occasions, especially when they play the Boks.

No, they won’t be wielding any “pangas” in the direction of their South Africans counterparts this afternoon, but they have been known to finish off this version with a drawing of the thumb over the throat. Contrasting emotions: Heyneke Meyer’s antics in the stands have made for some great TV over the last four years.

He shouts and screams into his walkie-talkie. He jumps and he throws his arms in the air. Basically the Bok coach is passion personified, and it’s nothing short of a miracle that he hasn’t suffered a stroke or a heart attack while watching his team play.

All Black coach Steve Hansen, on the other hand, doesn’t tend to show too much emotion. All you will get out of Hansen is the occasional air punch when one of his players scores a try. Clash of styles: What makes rugby matches between these two teams such a spectacle is the different approaches each adopts

While they aren’t quite worlds apart in terms of how they play the game, the All Blacks’ gameplan is a bit more rounded than that of the Boks. While Meyer has tried to expand the Boks’ repertoire over the past few years, they have reverted back to the tried and trusted formula of trying to bash opponents into submission. They rely on setpiece dominance, a great defence, a good kicking game and moments of individual brilliance to get them over the line.

The All Blacks also have those attributes, but they also rely on skill and flair. They also back themselves and their abilities. . Not for the faint of heart: If you suffer from high-blood pressure, I would suggest you take the dog for a walk or do some gardening between 5 and 7pm today.

It’s going to be physical. It’s going to be brutal. It’s going to be tense. Matches between the Springboks and the All Blacks certainly deliver more drama than a season of DaysofourLives. The outcome normally hinges on a mistake or a moment of brilliance. Scrumhalves, young versus old: Most rugby matches are decided by the ability of the scrumhalf to make the important plays. And the Boks and the All Blacks have arguably the best halfbacks in the game at the moment.

The battle of scrumhalves is going to be worth the price of admission alone, with Springbok veteran Fourie du Preez taking on New Zealand’s Aaron Smith. While the two No 9s are at the opposite ends of their careers, they are each playing brilliant rugby. Both have a brilliant kicking game, while their passing is as crisp as a glass of chardonnay.