Battle of the number nines

When Martin Johnson says something, you usually listen.

And with the semi-finals looming, the World Cup-winning England skipper was quick to hail the influence of the scrum-halves in this year's tournament.

He said: "They have been incredibly important - the number nine has come back to being one of the most important positions on the field."

Not a lot of people are going to argue.

Indeed all four scrum-halves taking part in this weekend's semi-finals have made an impact and none more so than the pair in Sunday's encounter between South Africa and Argentina - Fourie du Preez and Agustin Pichot.

Du Preez, who started out as a flanker, has been in scintillating form for the Springboks during this World Cup campaign.

He produced a masterful display in the 36-0 thrashing of England, having a hand in all three tries and rightfully claiming the man-of-the-match award.

The 25-year-old Blue Bulls scrum-half is one of the main inspirations behind South Africa's passage to the last four and unsurprisingly, is highly regarded by the team's management.

"He is a world-class player," said Springbok backs coach Allister Coetzee. "He's got a mature head on him. The added skill that he's got is his huge kicking game.

"It really helps a big pack of forwards when they pick up their heads and they're just going forward all the time."

Du Preez made his debut for South Africa in 2004 against Ireland but it was not until last year's Tri-Nations that he leapt ahead of Ricky Januarie to become first-choice.

He was voted South Africa's player of the year in 2006 and his accurate kicking game and sniping runs make him a constant threat.

And South African legend Joel Stransky, who kicked the winning drop goal for the Springboks in the 1995 World Cup final, says Du Preez deserves all the plaudits that are coming his way.

"This is how highly I rate him - I think he is the most important player in the South African team," Stransky told BBC Sport.

"He brings to the side an ability to make the right decisions at the right time, every single time. He can also kick, pass and run well.

"He was man of the match in the England game by a long way. He was outstanding. But in almost every game he plays you can see his influence.

"Fourie has always been a great player and he has coped with being under pressure from all the other good scrum-halves in the squad."

And up against Du Preez is Pichot, a player who is more than just skipper and scrum-half of the Pumas.

The former Richmond and Bristol half-back is also a talisman and mentor, and has played a pivotal role in helping the Pumas become a major player on the world stage.

The charismatic 33-year-old has won 70 caps for his country since making a try-scoring debut against Australia in 1995.

He won the French championship with Stade Francais this year and many see his leadership skills being used in a career in politics when his playing days are over.

"He is a focal point," added Stransky. "He is probably not as dynamic as Fourie in terms of his kicking or his running but he is very much the brain behind the juggernaut in front of him.

"He controls the forwards well. You can see the way he talks to them and manages them.

"He calls all the little moves around the fringes, his control of the game is phenomenal and he is a great little dictator of that pack.

"Gus is a legend of the game and in many ways he has single-handedly helped pick Argentina up and take from a smallish rugby team into a world rugby force.

"A lot of it is due to him, his inspiration, his leadership and his ability. You can never underestimate him."

Stransky believes the battle between the pair will go a long way to deciding which team comes out on top this weekend.

"That contest is going to be crucial," he added. "It will be an intriguing battle.

"They have contrasting styles and if it becomes quite physical then Fourie will have the advantage, he is bigger and stronger and will handle the physical aspect a little bit better.

"If I was him I would get on top of Agustin and make his life hell from a physical point of view."

Source: BBC Sport