SOUTH African coach Heyneke Meyer said the New Zealand team that his side will face in their Rugby World Cup semi-final today are the best side rugby has ever seen.

The Springboks meet the All Blacks at Twickenham and Meyer says repeating their victory at home in the Rugby Championship last year is a huge undertaking.

“I must say this — and I really mean it, it’s not just talk — but this is probably the best team that’s ever played the game.

This must be our best performance ever if we want to beat them.

“Just look at their record the last four years. They just got better after the World Cup, which just doesn’t happen in world rugby.”

South Africa have made only one change to their 23-man squad, with Victor Matfield coming in on the bench. Their team hold 701 caps making it the second-most experienced side New Zealand have ever faced at a world cup.

The Springboks will look to winger Bryan Habana, who has equalled Jonah Lomu’s Rugby World Cup try-scoring record, and been the only man to play five full matches at this tournament.

South African number eight Duane Vermeulen nicely summed up the spirit of rugby while previewing the encounter: “We are going to bash each other for 80 minutes and then enjoy a good chat and maybe have a beer afterwards.”

In the other semi-final Argentina are seeking to reach their first-ever Rugby World Cup final by defeating Australia at Twickenham on Sunday.

To achieve that the Pumas must overcome the most-experienced-ever Wallabies side to play at a Rugby World Cup, holding 876 caps, with David Pocock and Ismael Folau returning to the side.

Australia are seeking a 10th win in 11 meetings against Argentina, who comfortably dispatched Ireland, arguably the best side in the northern hemisphere, 43-20 in the quarter-finals.

Fly-half Nicolas Sanchez, who has scored 74 points in the tournament, will be crucial for the Pumas to expose the defensive vulnerabilities that saw Australia concede four tries against Scotland, in a narrow quarter-final win.