OPINION: London's Indian summer is finally coming to an end, but forecast rain for Sunday's World Cup semifinal wouldn't be a disadvantage to the All Blacks against South Africa anyway.
There is a widespread perception that a wet track helps the Springboks by bringing their big forward pack and kick-chase game into play.
However, history provides no evidence that it could help them beat the All Blacks at Twickenham and, in fact, the All Blacks have a better kicking arsenal than their opponents regardless of conditions.
Since South Africa's reintroduction to test rugby in 1992 the All Blacks have played their old foe 53 times, but only eight times in wet conditions. Of those eight tests, the Springboks have won just once, squeaking home 32-29 on a slippery night in Hamilton in 2009.
Conversely, the rest of the Springboks 15 wins during that period have all come on hard, dry tracks, their most recent victory a high-scoring and expansive 27-25 win in Johannesburg in 2014.
The last match played on a wet or slippery surface was in Wellington earlier that year with the All Blacks coming out on top 14-10 after a slug-fest between the two forward packs.
In 2013 the All Blacks thrived on a wet track at Eden Park, running in four tries on the way to a 29-15 win, and before that scored a quartet of tries during a 31-17 victory on a frigid night in Wellington in 2010.
While the All Blacks, and most New Zealand Super Rugby teams, often talk up South Africa's size and strength, it is not something they fear.
Legally defending the rolling maul remains something of a puzzle to New Zealand teams but, though physically demanding, one-off runners are not difficult to defend.
Professional players are conditioned for front-on tackling, which is in many ways less aerobically taxing than a more varied attack which forces defenders to move across field or scramble backwards.
In many ways the All Blacks will be more concerned about the South African backs should they choose to use them.
The young midfield of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel got the better of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith last time the two sides played and the Springbok back three has pace and power in Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen.
There is a school of thought that South Africa will give the ball a bit more air in the semifinal in a bid to surprise the All Blacks.
However, it's difficult to see Heyneke Meyer's side suddenly transform into an expansive side. After kicking an average of 24 times per match during pool play (second only to Ireland), South Africa kicked the ball away an incredible 46 times during their quarterfinal against Wales.
The All Blacks also kicked a lot more during their quarterfinal with France, putting boot to ball 39 times, more than double their average of 16 during their four pool matches.
However, it is not the quantity but the quality and variety of the kicks that count.
What is often overlooked is that the All Blacks have probably the best tactical kicking arsenal in world rugby in Aaron Smith, Dan Carter and Ben Smith, while Nonu has become a legitimate option from second five-eighth.
Rain or shine, that quartet provide better kicking options than Fourie du Preez, Handre Pollard, de Allende and Willie Le Roux.
