Edward Dent: This competition has seen cricket throw off the shackles of the dusty long room and emerge as a dynamic exciting spectacle of mass appeal. Brilliant and about time!

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"As a player, the anthems are when you really start to feel the adrenaline and excitement. I couldn't wait to start. It's awful if you're the batting team and you're batting number nine like I did as you're all hyped up and have to go and sit down. I'd rather be on the fielding team right now."

Listen to Test Match Special commentary via the audio icon.

Out come South Africa openers Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock. Tim Southee has the new ball in his hand.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Auckland

"Quite a nice touch before the game begins, with the flag of every country that has taken part in the tournament being unfurled on the outfield. This is the last game to be held in New Zealand."

There is something very apt about Vangelis's theme music from '1492: Conquest of Paradise' blaring out around the stadium prior to this game. The film is about Christopher Columbus discovering America in the titular year. And today, one of these teams is going to progress to new territory.

The stands are full, the anthems have been rousingly belted out. In just a few minutes we'll have a whole game of cricket on our hands...

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Both teams are in stunning form. South Africa blitzed Sri Lanka, but nothing compares to what New Zealand did to the West Indies. Trent Boult is the top wicket-taker in the World Cup and Daniel Vettori is the best fielder of the World Cup.

"New Zealand are my favourites to go on and win the whole thing."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Australia spinner Shane Warne on Twitter:, external Huge toss won by SA & they will bat first, AB looking really nervous at the toss... I think SA will win now they are batting first, sorry Kiwis.

Or a good toss to lose with the cloud cover? I think it's too cold to swing around corners. NZ must take three wickets in the first 15 overs!!

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Auckland

"Had an excellent journey to the ground in the company of Graeme Swann, which began with a taxi driver who didn't know where Eden Park was and moved on to an extraordinary scene outside the stadium. Bagpipers and roller-skaters, just what every World Cup semi-final needs. 'What's going on here?' said Swann. 'Am I high?'"

South Africa captain AB de Villiers on Vernon Philander's selection ahead of Kyle Abbott:

"Verny's in good form, and has looked good in the nets. Kyle's been a great team player for us and maybe he'll get a chance in the final if we make it there."

Pete Naylor: This is going to be one classic clash if both sides fire on all cylinders, with history to be made. Go for it, Proteas.

Nick Strong: This game should be the final! McCullum vs de Villiers!

Scotty Reynolds: As an Aussie, I don't generally give a... about other cricket teams but this game has got my attention.

As our cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew points out, the quarter-finals may not have produced the closest contests so far in the competition, but they have at least ensured the best four teams in the tournament comprise the final four.

Agnew continues: "The semis and the teams involved throw a spotlight on the four captains, who have their own separate stories in addition to the mission of trying to win the World Cup."

Of today's skippers in particular, he notes: "New Zealand's Brendon McCullum is the personification of his nation's hopes, while AB de Villiers is looking to finally shake off South Africa's 'choker' reputation in a year in which he has already done some extraordinary things with the bat."

Image source, BBC Sport

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (capt), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi (wk), Daniel Vettori, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.

South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (capt), Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, JP Duminy, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir.

Umpires are England's Ian Gould and Australia's Rod Tucker, with England's Nigel Llong on TV replays.

Auckland has hosted three matches in this World Cup prior to this semi-final. Considering the size of some of the totals in this competition, it has not yet offered a real run-fest, with India's six-wicket win over Zimbabwe providing the most runs (575 in total).

It was not a happy hunting ground for South Africa, who lost a rain-affected game to Pakistan by 29 runs (D/L) on 7 March in Pool B. New Zealand fared better a week earlier (just) by coming out on top in that dramatic Pool A game with fellow hosts Australia, by one wicket.

Image source, AFP

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Auckland

"There's a real big game atmosphere in Auckland, with home supporters swarming around the city centre, jamming the roads around Eden Park and pouring from trains at the nearest station. The sun has been out, but there's a threat of rain. The drop-in pitch is a brilliant white colour and looks full of runs."

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum: "We've drafted Matt Henry into the squad and he comes straight in, in place of Adam Milne, he's a wicket-taking option and we wanted him in as that third seamer. It was a really tough choice, but we thought go with Matt's extra pace and the aggressive option."

South Africa have made one change with Vernon Philander coming in for Kyle Abbott. Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has confirmed the inclusion of relative rookie Matt Henry in place of the injured Adam Milne. A brave call? We'll find out very soon.

As predicted, ABDV calls heads, gets it right and has a bat. "We rate ourselves against their bowling attack," says the Proteas skipper.