Twenty years on from the World Cup final that saw sport and politics mix in a fashion that inspired a Clint Eastwood movie and rugby’s super-powers are set for their most important confrontation since.

The mood is consequently rather cagey, with both camps dealing with injury problems among front five forwards.

Bismarck Du Plessis, the bullock of a Springbok hooker suffered a nasty cut when team-mate Francois Louw stood on his hand during Saturday’s defeat of Wales and arguably even more worryingly Lood De Jager, their 22-year-old lock, has damaged a tendon in his foot.

While the Springbok great he has replaced in the side, Victor Matfield, is reckoned to be recovering from a hamstring problem in time to be considered, it is a measure of 22-year-old De Jager’s impact on the tournament that his absence would now be considered a major blow.

The All Blacks meanwhile have an issue in the worst possible department when facing these particular foes because, in the wake of Tony Woodcock’s injury enforced retirement from international rugby earlier in the tournament Joe Moody, called up to replace him in the squad only last week, may have to start against what is traditionally the world’s strongest scrummaging team because Wyatt Crocket, their other loosehead prop, has a groin problem.

Regardless of who plays, however, for all that the All Blacks looked unstoppable in their demolition of France last weekend, that is exactly how it was seen when Jonah Lomu was trampling all in his way in 1995, yet the Springboks found a way to keep the great winger and his free-scoring team-mates quiet in a try-less final which they won with Joel Stransky’s injury time drop goal.

Little wonder, then, that the noises from the Kiwi camp are respectful.

“There’s something special about playing them and playing them in a semi-final will be extra special.,” said Conrad Smith, the All Black centre who has won 17 of his 92 caps against them, finishing on the winning side 13 times.

“With South Africa there is a consistent level of physicality. You can’t catch them on an off night and in the past five years it’s always been tight when we have played.

“I’m sure this one will be the same. They’ve been impressive so far and individually they have great players.”