Wales coach Warren Gatland is banking on a slice of luck, and a small amount of superstition, as the Springboks loom large in the Saturday night's (Sunday 0200 AEDT) opening quarter-final.

With a physiotherapists' strike surely on the horizon, Gatland knows his side will need the rub of the green if it is to have any chance of bouncing back from the defeat against the Wallabies and secure a semi-final match-up with the All Blacks or Les Bleus.

"We'll be in the away dressing room and I don't think anyone's won in the home dressing room", quipped the New Zealander, before tipping a high-risk, high-intensity encounter.

As counterpart Heyneke Meyer talked up how the loss to Japan was exactly what the doctor ordered, Gatland controversially backed English referee Wayne Barnes to fairly adjudicate the blockbuster.

Speaking of omens, when equal top try-scorer Bryan Habana last scored a hat-trick in the World Cup - against Samoa in 2007 - South Africa went on to win the trophy. He bagged a trio against the USA in the pool round, and with JP Pietersen back on the other wing, it is shaping up as another long night for the Welsh defence.

Foot in mouth disease: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. Photo: Getty Images

Hansen's PR clanger

The All Blacks' gym-bunnies are leaving nothing to chance when they face an unpredictable French outfit as their defence of the Webb Ellis trophy finally gets a chance to ramp up. (Sunday 0600 AEDT)

Steve Hansen's match-day squad boasts an average age of 28 - and a whopping total of 1295 Test caps. Talismanic skipper Richie McCaw, not for the first time, will have to carry the not inconsiderable hopes of a nation on battered shoulders as the All Blacks look to overcome a messy history against Les Blues.

The coach finally gave his PR team something to do after spilling his own high ball at the pre-match press conference, with an off-hand comment about the 1985 Rainbow Warrior bombing raising eyebrows - and French backs.

As if on cue, it looks as if their opponents have adhered to the stereotype of imploding at big tournaments, with reports at home suggesting a players' mutiny had seen off coach Philippe Saint-Andre once and for all in favour of legendary fullback Serge Blanco. To be fair, Saint-Andre had told journalists the previous day: "If there's not an uprising for this match, you must change sport." Fait accompli. 

Man of many talents: Argentina's Marcos Ayerza. Photo: AP

Irish eyes watering

Marcos Ayerza must be a fearsome sight when he gets out on the polo field back in Buenos Aires, but this weekend the Pumas' 115kg loosehead prop will be making the Irish pack as nervous as his local stablehands.

Ireland's depleted frontmen will be hoping Iain Henderson can fill the void left by fearless trio Paul O'Connell (hamstring), Peter O'Mahony (knee) and Sean O'Brien (suspension), whose departures have left the nation's lofty World Cup dreams in tatters.

Out of the six World Cups to date, Ireland have made the quarters five times - and never progressed. They have fallen victim to Argentina in two of their three encounters at the big dance. The good news for the men in tattered green is that they have knocked over their Cup bogey-side for the last seven straight games, but expect lashings of blood and thunder from both proud sides.

With hotel prices in Cardiff hitting an average price of $2,580 for Saturday night, Joe Schmidt will be hoping to deliver for the army of colourful fans descending on the Welsh capital.