Rugby World Cup: South Africa and Samoa set to collide

South Africa and Samoa produced one of the best games of the pool round in 2011. Photo / Greg Bowker

In the most unpredictable of World Cups, there are at least a couple of anchor points that will provide an element of relief that not everything can be pushed off course.

One of those points that should prove reassuringly predictable is that having suffered a humiliating defeat, the Springboks will arrive at Villa Park this Sunday with raw anger fuelling them. Their response after losing to Japan, will be to come at Samoa in the most direct and overtly physical way.

Under pressure the Boks will revert to what they know: they will ask what they do best and the answer, as it has been for more than 100 years, is physical intimidation.

South Africa have always been convinced that if the wall is still standing after charging into it it nine times, it will fall on the tenth as long as they charge harder. It's a thought process that has served them well - given them a relentless toughness and brutality that tests the character of their opposition.

What makes their likely response so mouth watering, is that Samoa rather enjoy the physical stuff themselves. They are the proverbial brick wall and as they ably demonstrated when the All Blacks played in Apia this year, Samoa rugby do a particularly special line in aggressive defence.

They remain the masters of warrior rugby - absolutely lethal when it comes to high impact tackling. Even the All Blacks were a little rattled by the ferocity of Samoa's defence - ball carriers who were hit early becoming noticeably wary the next time they were in possession.

It's a quality skill that Samoa have - it creates hesitancy and wariness in their opponents and everyone knows the fear of what could be coming in often the more powerful tool than what actually comes.

What all this means is that the game of the weekend is likely to be in Birmingham rather than at Twickenham where England will be playing Wales. The Pool of Death hasn't lost its special status as such, it is just that Pool B has suddenly become equally, if not more fascinating because of the sheer unexpectedness of what happened in Brighton.

There is now no one with a good feel of what will transpire: South Africa could romp home, or maybe they will be tackled into another panicky mess by the Samoans.

Whatever, the chances of this game being dull are zero. World Cup games between these two never have been because they are destined to bring the best out of each other due to their desire to physically intimidate.

When they met in 2011 at North Harbour Stadium, it was one of the best games of the pool round. There was venom and nastiness in many of the exchanges and the battering both sides took was huge.

The Boks sneaked home four years ago. They had more control and composure generally and a specific edge at the set piece.

How they would love for history to repeat but the only guaranteed aspect to be replicated from 2011 is the ferocity of the battle and the sheer bloody mindedness of both teams to inflict their will.