So here we are. The best two teams in the world (as per the IRB rankings) preparing to go head to head with a place in the Rugby World Cup final at stake. With all due respect to the other semi-finalists, it's got to be said it's a bit of a shame this isn't the showpiece itself - particularly given the tournament is taking place in New Zealand - but since Australia's defeat by Ireland in the group stage, this one has always slated for this stage of the competition. After cruising through their group - no other team secured four bonus-point victories - the All Blacks had the widest margin of victory in the quarter-finals, though a 23-point difference between them and Argentina certainly didn't seem on the cards when they led only 12-7 at half-time. And as if Dan Carter being absent were not enough they've now got to do without his replacement Colin Slade, while Mils Muliaina is also a big loss from their backline. The reason this New Zealand side is the best in the world, though, is not just down to their starting XV - they've got plenty of class throughout their squad and if anyone can take the absences of the likes of Carter and Muliaina, it's the All Blacks, although (third-choice) number 10 Aaron Cruden would be forgiven if he's hit by a few butterflies immediately before kick-off! Unsurprisingly Australia have needed no second invitation to crank up the pressure on the hosts, with assistant coach David Nucifora saying: "The players know and the players understand the expectation that sits on their shoulders to win a World Cup. You only have to walk the streets, it's everywhere around you at the moment. The pressure is mounting, the expectation is there, it's been a long time and people want to win it, it means a heck of a lot to them. It's going to be interesting how they deal with that. It's a massive game and how players deal with pressure during the game will dictate what the outcome will be." They reached this stage by creeping past South Africa and that not only showed they can grind out the results when it matters but will also ensure that they're battle-hardened ready for this one. Much will be made of the fact Australia won the last game between the sides but the bigger picture is that's just one of two in the last 13. The Wallabies will have their backers at 12/5 but New Zealand will just have too much for them in my eyes. And noting nine of the 12 RWC semi-finals in history have been decided by between 0 (one draw) and 12 points we'll have a dabble on their winning margin being 1-12 points.
