Tokyo (AFP)

Duels in the New Zealand / South Africa World Cup match on Saturday in Yokohama, between N.8 Kieran Read and Duane Vermeulen on the other hand, and opener Richie Mo'unga and Handré Pollard on the other hand , will propose an opposition of styles, between the technique of All Blacks and the ferocity of the Springboks.

+ Whitelock / Etzebeth, surface-to-air missiles

A single being misses you ... Without his usual partner on the second line, Brodie Retallick, injured on one shoulder and whose return is hoped for the quarter-finals, Sam Whitelock (2.02 m, 116 kg) finds however an opponent he knows well: Eben Etzebeth (2.03, 117 kg), a little less aerial than him, but more fierce. Of their duel, in touch but especially in the upwind fight, will depend partly on the outcome of the match.

The two vice captains of their selection approach the competition differently. Serenely for Whitelock (30 years, 112 sel.), Which, like his teammates Sonny Bill Williams and Kieran Read, aims for a third consecutive title. "It's one of those test-matches we're dreaming of playing as a child, so having the opportunity to play South Africa in the World Cup opening is pretty cool," said Whitelock.

Etzebeth (27, 79 sel.) Is undoubtedly less relaxed, accused of uttering racist slurs against a homeless person, and pointed a gun at him in South Africa before leaving for Japan. An investigation is underway and could have repercussions on the benefits of the future player of Toulon.

+ Read / Vermeulen, avoidance and confrontation

All Blacks and Springboks both rely heavily, to advance, on their N.8, of different styles. Read (1.93 m, 113 kg) is thus more technical and plays more on avoidance than Vermeulen (1.93 m, 117 kg), who likes, like any self-respecting South African front, to challenge his opponents head-on. . Well helped by its size.

Read (33 years old, 122 sel.), Who took over the captaincy after Richie McCaw's retirement at the end of the 2015 World Cup, is aware of the challenge ahead of his alter ego (33 years old). , 49 sel.). And he can not wait to take it up: "He's a great player, very aggressive, a tough guy who likes to carry the ball and hurt himself while tackling.

+ Mo'unga / Pollard, improvisation versus classicism

He also made classicism: strong (1.89 m, 98 kg), with a good length of foot and sober in his game, seeking especially to play his teammates, Handré Pollard (25 years, 42 sel.) marries the South African guns at the opening, where he relegated several lengths behind his competitor Elton Jantjies. The precision of his footwork will be crucial on Saturday, where he will have to be careful not to offer counter-attack balls to Beauden Barrett.

Usual opener, Barrett, best player of the world 2016 and 2017 was repositioned this summer in the back, where his qualities of stimulus express themselves wonderfully, but also to make room for the opening to Richie Mo'unga ( 25 years, 11 sel.), Much more precise than him in the practice of penalties. The Crusaders player (1.76 m, 83 kg) has more individual qualities than Pollard, since he is able to make big differences ball in hand by his supports and his speed. The Boks will have to try to reduce his decision time by imposing a big pressure on him.

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