It’s charge of the fight brigades for the Boks

There you go. The gloves are off. One of the biggest ever Tests in the 94-year history between these old foes will not be for the faint-hearted. The All Blacks expect a physical assault and they will get one.

Earlier in the week Bok coach Heyneke Meyer heaped praise on the All Blacks by calling them the “best team to have ever played the game”. Given the All Blacks’ record, with only three losses in their last 52 Tests since winning the 2011 World Cup, Meyer’s logic is sound.

But the All Blacks were having none of it. “We have respect for the team we’re playing and H (Heyneke) has been very complimentary, just about killing us with kindness,” said Hansen.

“But we know they really want to rip our heads off so we are not taking much notice of that.”

The All Blacks’ compound in Weybridge is sprinkled with security guards barking orders at media to literally not stray off the garden paths to designated areas. They are certainly on red alert.

Although the battle will be thunderous and the physicality immense, Hansen’s comment masks where this match will truly be won and lost – in the head.

Creating scoreboard pressure is the only way the Boks can put the squeeze on the All Blacks and particularly on their mental state. Barring a period in their opening game against Argentina the All Blacks haven’t faced any pressure in terms of chasing a game in the dying moments. The Boks have to make every chance count while also denying the All Blacks momentum. It’s a monumental juggling task.

Both sides bring physicality and tactical appreciation as well as skill. As always in these tight contests, one moment of brilliance or one lapse in concentration could be the difference between playing in a final next week, or the dreaded bronze medal match.

Bok scrumhalf and captain Fourie du Preez is a key figure in the contest. His ability to give his side direction has been one of the biggest influences in their growth at this tournament.

Facing him is Aaron Smith, probably the best halfback in the world right now because he edges Du Preez in terms of youth and athleticism. But the 33-year-old Bok skipper’s head is still a major weapon and one that could be decisive. He is the only active player in the game to have a superior win-loss ratio against the All Blacks with over 10 appearances against them. In 12 outings Du Preez has been on the winning side seven times.

There are wonderful match-ups across the board, from flyhalves Dan Carter and Handre Pollard, to wings Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen against Julian Savea and Nehe Milner-Skudder.

But it’s in the engine-room where the tone will be set. Eighthman Duane Vermeulen and Kieran Read are vital to their teams while All Black skipper Richie McCaw’s influence at the breakdown will be crucial. Perhaps, though, the most bruising and vital mini-battle will be in the second row, where Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager come up against the imperious Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.

“They’re right up there amongst the best locks in the world,” said Hansen. “Our blokes have got a bit of a combination going but so have that young Bok pair.

“The locks will be crucial because in today’s game lineout ball is the most important ball you can get, and disrupting it is important.”

Meyer named an unchanged team for the first time since November 2012 while the All Blacks made just one change to the team that steamrolled France 62-13 in the quarterfinal. Prop Joe Moody comes in for the injured Wyatt Crockett.