Former Scotland and British and Irish Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan says slowing the break down and winning the scrum battle is the best way for South Africa to hand the All Blacks a Rugby World Cup exit in Sunday's semifinal.
"In order to beat New Zealand you simply have to beat them in the back row," McGeechan penned in his column in the
Telegraph
newspaper.
"That is easier said than done when you are up against Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino, but if you can manage to do that then you can break their game up and stop their continuity of phase play. The intensity they work at comes off front foot ball and if you can slow that ball down at the breakdown then you can stop their game.
"It is exactly what Australia did with Michael Hooper and David Pocock when they beat the All Blacks last summer in Sydney. And it is, in fact, what England did when they smashed them at the breakdown in beating them at Twickenham in 2012."
McGeechan added whether South Africa can front in that aspect of the game is down to loose forwards Francois Louw and Schalk Burger, who he dubbed a seven and a six and a half, 'working and hunting together'.
McGeechan also said the scrum is where the Springboks can dominate the All Blacks.
"I think South Africa will work New Zealand really hard at the scrummage. It is one area where they could find real dominance, mainly because the All Blacks' scrummage has been efficient, if not much more, in this tournament.
"It was, though, probably better against France than it has been. But then again New Zealand sides do not generally see the scrummage as a weapon to win penalties from or to launch big moves from. They just want a stable base."
According to McGeechan the key clash of the match will be between South Africa captain Fourie de Preez and All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith.
McGeechan is still predicting an All Blacks victory saying Daniel Carter's goal-kicking will be the difference.
England players were questioned by police as soon as they landed at Christchurch Airport.