Tokyo (AFP)

Fans of great flights abstain: Wales, with its stifling and structured game, faces South Africa and its destructive package of fronts Sunday (9:00 GMT / 10:00 French) in Yokohama for a place in the final of the World Cup.

Warren Gatland can be said to be lucid when he predicts that this second semifinal, less enticing than England-New Zealand, will not be "the best match in the world".

The coach of Wales has indeed seen the Springbok scatter in the quarter-finals Japan (26-3) by force of group-penetrating (including one of nearly 50 meters to bring the last test) and thanks to the big arms of its fronts, without equivalent on the planet.

He also saw his team suffer the same day against France (20-19) who, without the final exclusion of Sebastien Vahaamahina for a nudge and two tries to zero passes cashed, would probably have won the right to challenge South Africans.

This "privilege" is therefore the XV Leek, which has in its viewfinder a first world final, eight years after failing at his door, beaten by France in New Zealand (9-8).

Gatland, who has been in post since 2008, was already at the helm, and hopes to finish his long term in style after taking the Welsh to second place at the top of Europe, with a third Grand Slam in the tournament. six nations in March.

"I have the impression that we are always boxing above our category, but reaching the final would be a great achievement for us," said the New Zealander.

- "Revenge" -

This remarkable consistency has not yet found an extension on the world stage: after stumbling against France in 2011, Wales was barred the way, four years ago in England, by Africa. South precisely (23-18).

For Wales's Jonathan Davies, Wales "owes a rematch" to the Springboks. "It will be in our heads and I hope we can give them change in this week," said the center, back after missing the quarter-final injury (knee).

To believe in their lucky star, Davies and his partners can rely on the confidence born of a series of fourteen successes between February 2018 and August last, their hermetic defense, their precision at the foot and their ability to repeat the offensive sequences for crack the opponent.

In short, nothing is new in the East, Handré Pollard is aware of this: "They know how to deprive you of possession and occupation, and impose their game on foot.This is not a game plan or a rugby with a lot of + flair + ... it's just stuffy. "

- "Playground Festival" -

The Boks opener and his partners have paid to know, beaten during the last four confrontations between the two teams.

The "compliment" can however be returned to them, leading Gatland to predict "a foot-and-bow festival" on Sunday in Yokohama.

Probably a little better off front and leg muscles, even without their pocket winger Cheslin Kolbe (the Welsh are deprived of their rear Liam Williams), the "Boks" have taken a much more sinuous way to reach the milestone their third final, after 1995 and 2007, world title to the key every time.

Moribonds at the end of 2017, they owe much of their turnaround at the start of the following year to the position of coach of Rassie Erasmus, which has refocused on their strengths: conquest, bludgeoning and precision foot.

This old recipe, effective, allowed South Africa to go to the reconquest of the crowds, at least his.

"Since 2015 (elimination in the semifinals) we are 5th, 6th or 7th world and advance masks, explains Erasmus and some people have lost faith in us but we try to get their respect again.People start to believe in new to our team. " These hopes will pass to the Welsh developer.

© 2019 AFP