Tokyo (AFP)

They each pulled a rabbit out of their hat: English coaches Eddie Jones and New Zealand's Steve Hansen on Thursday made a major retouch in their starting XV to tip in their favor the semi-final World Cup Saturday at Yokohama (suburb of Tokyo).

Once is not customary, it was not the English who shot first but the double world champions, whose announcement of the composition, in the morning in Japan, preceded that of the XV of the Rose.

In the lounge of the Tokyo Conrad skyscraper hotel in Tokyo, Hansen drew the weapon Scott Barrett.

Usual second substitute of the unstoppable tandem Brodie Retallick-Sam Whitelock, he will start for the first time in his international career a notch lower, replacing Sam Cane, yet one of the team's tricks.

Incidentally, Scott confirms the incredible versatility of Barrett's siblings, since Elder Beauden is in the back after taking the N.10 until this summer and the youngest Jordie can cover on the bench the positions of 'back, opener and winger.

Cane slips on the bench in place of Matt Todd, hit one-shoulder in the quarterfinals against Ireland (46-14). The latter was not he restored, in which case the coach wanted to ensure his back by placing on the bench a third line of weight in the person of Cane, presented as the successor of the legendary captain Richie McCaw?

Or does the staff rely on Barrett's aerial qualities, which had greatly hindered the British in this sector, last November at Twickenham (16-15), coming into play in the third row?

"It has a bit to do with this game, but not that much," said Hansen, for whom Barrett is a "good jumper in touch and big ball carrier, he brings us in the latter area".

- "It's strategic" -

Hansen, however, refused to "go into details because it would give information to Eddie (England's coach), it is better that he seeks them himself."

"It's strategic, not a form-driven choice because Sam (Cane) played very well, but we have to make decisions based on how we want to play, which is why we've changed". he adds.

Jones too has changed, but he has innovated less. The Australian coach of the XV Rose has returned to its former configuration by focusing on the association of two opener and childhood friends, George Ford and Owen Farrell (placed in the center).

A configuration used in pools, he had just put in the closet for the quarterfinals against Australia (40-16), which he feared the power. To counter it, he had ousted Ford on the bench to reposition Captain Farrell at the opening and solidify his pair of centers by associating Henry Slade with Manu Tuilagi.

- "Game without balloon" -

This time, Slade is a substitute, because the All Blacks have other characteristics than the Wallabies, who have hardly played at the foot last Saturday.

The New Zealanders, with the opener Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett, have two gunners capable by their game at the foot of running the XV of the Rose.

"For every game, we have to consider the conditions, the opposition, what we think it wants to do and what we want to offer in return," said Jones.

"When you play New Zealand, ball-free play is extremely important, they like to move the ball, and Ford's ball-free play is absolutely exceptional," he added.

The Leicester opener is therefore partly expected on the cover, to receive the best kicks of the feet of the New Zealanders and send them back to their camp by his own. Play on foot, fight in touch and in the air, the tactical battle promises.

© 2019 AFP