Following a gutsy three-point win over world number one ranked Ireland last weekend, Hamish 'The Hitman' McKay and Dom 'The Dominator' George anticipate another thrilling game on Saturday morning.
Both McKay and George agreed that the All Blacks semi-final match-up against Argentina will certainly be no easy feat.
"You cannot take Argentina lightly," George said.
"I'm sitting here saying to myself, it's not a great Argentinian side which is what I said, exactly the same words, before the 2007 quarterfinal, it's not a great French side," McKay concurred.
Compared to 2019, McKay believes a rejuvenated front row and the return of winger Mark Talea give the ABs the opportunity to push for a record-breaking fourth Rugby World Cup victory.
George highlighted the performances of both skipper Sam Cane and full-back Beauden Barrett in the win against Ireland and is excited to see their return to top form when it was needed most.
One of the few unbeaten teams remaining at the Cricket World Cup, McKay and George both marvelled at the form the Kiwi side have shown so far. Both focused their praises on all-rounder Mitchell Santner in particular who has shown promise with both bat and ball in the tournament thus far.
"Santner's bowling, I thought was outstanding," McKay said.
"He's turning into an absolute match-winner this guy, particularly with the ball in hand," George agreed.
"We've got batting firepower going right down till about 9 or 10…that balance of the New Zealand side is really good as well."
Currently top of the table, the Blackcaps face the only other unbeaten team in the tournament so far in the hosts, India overnight on Sunday, which could be pivotal in the Kiwi's progression towards the knockout stages.
From one white ball to another, the Silver Ferns kept their Constellation Cup hopes alive with a hard-fought 56-53 victory against current holders Australia.
Despite a strong challenge from Australia, McKay was impressed with the resilience of the Kiwi's performance in Invercargill.
Needing to beat the Diamonds by an aggregate of 19 goals across the final two games, including last night's fixture it will require a herculean effort for the Silver Ferns to snatch the cup off their biggest Trans Tasman rivals, but as is commonly known in sports, nothing is impossible.
Listen to the full chat between Hamish 'The Hitman' McKay and Dominic 'The Dominator' George above.
To check out more episodes listen to the REX Today Podcast anytime on your favourite streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Rova or tune in to REX Mornings live on Magic from 5 am to 6 am every weekday.
Visit the Rural Exchange Facebook or Instagram page for more information and regular updates from the REX team.
