Tokyo (AFP)

This is the first summit of the World Cup: New Zealand and South Africa, two of the favorites in the title, will use all means, including putting the pressure on the French referee Jerome Garcès, to take the ascending Saturday (18:45 local, 11:45 French) in Yokohama.

How important is this early shock? Finally, none of the two world heavyweights - 5 of the 8 previous world seals between them - fear Ireland, promised in the quarterfinals to the loser. But so far, the world champion team has always won all matches in its path.

And if their place in the final table is acquired given the weakness of the rest of the pool B (Italy, Canada, Namibia), nor the All Blacks nor the Springboks, respectively doubles title holders and outsiders N.1 of the tournament, n ' intend to derogate from the rule.

- Impartiality in question -

The South Africans have chosen to draw first by the coach Rassie Erasmus who said that winning teams, as the New Zealanders have been for years, were better treated by referees.

"Because you play so well, referees almost have a hard time penalizing you if they have a complicated decision to make," said Erasmus, targeting New Zealanders. His vis-à-vis Steve Hansen was quick to react, and so scathing.

"I do not agree with what he's doing," he said. "He's trying to put some pressure on the referees, who are already under enough pressure, they do not need the coaches to do what he's doing," Hansen contended. already "suffered" unjust whistles.

He was aiming at no doubt about Jérôme Garcès, the French referee who inflicted their two unique red cards of the professional era: Sonny Bill Williams in 2017 against the British and Irish Lions and Scott Barrett in August, which has precipitated the heavy defeat of the world's masters in Australia (47-26). And guess who referee the match on Saturday ...

- Fixed plan -

The shock is not limited to the controversy over arbitral impartiality. Erasmus has nothing to lose: a defeat would not be unacceptable and a success would consecrate the progress of the Boks since he took over in 2018, on the ruins of the heaviest setback in their history ... in New Zealand (57-0).

Since then, the four meetings between the two nations have been ultra-tight, with a maximum gap of two points to the final score. And the draw drawn by the Springboks at the end of July in Wellington (16-16) had a taste of victory.

Erasmus has straightened out a selection at bay with a simple but effective method: advance through the game at the foot of his half Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard, and get your hands on the ball thanks to the power of his forwards (Malcom Marx, Eben Etzebeth , Duane Vermeulen). A perfect plan in case of wet weather on Tokyo and its region ...

The South African bulldozers intend to push the enemy to the fault, but also take advantage of the recovery balloons to open the way to the rear. In front, the mixed results of the summer have caused casualties: the tailor Owen Franks has not been selected for Japan, the Ben Smith rear will start on the bench and the winger Rieko Ioane, a must in 2017 and 2018 , must wait in tribunes.

The rear triangle is brand new: the young Sevu Reece (22 years old, 3 sel.) And George Bridge (24 years old, 5 sel.) On the wings, and a certain Beauden Barrett in the back, the best player in the world 2016 and 2017 leaving as this summer the opening to Richie Mo'unga. The goal is to make the Boks dizzy with two playmakers able to ignite fires all over the field.

Sacred in 2011 and 2015, captain Kieran Read (33, 122 sel.) Is well placed to measure the stakes. "It's going to be one of the biggest games to play in a career," predicts N.8. It is perhaps also what M. Garcès says.

© 2019 AFP