2023-09-25 03:00:30
After the green wave this Saturday evening, a blue wave is approaching South Africa. Beaten by Ireland this Saturday in the shock of Group B (8-13), the Springboks will finish second and, barring disaster, will face the French team on October 15 at 9 p.m. on the same Saint-Denis lawn in the quarterfinals. World Cup final. Asked about this possibility, coach Jacques Nienaber quickly dismissed the question, politely: “No, we have not yet analyzed the Blues. We need to focus on Tonga first. We are not yet thinking about the quarter-final, that would be presumptuous on our part. We will have time to prepare after Tonga, regardless of the opponent. »
It’s difficult to get more from the coach, as well as from captain Siya Kolisi, sitting next to him at the press conference. One thing is certain: South Africa lost a battle but not the World Cup. Beaten but not defeated. Far from there. Especially since the memory of the Japanese tournament in 2019 remains well anchored in our memories. After losing to New Zealand in the group stage, the Springboks became the first to win a world title despite a defeat, the third coronation in their history.
“We lost against the best team in the world tonight, we are second”
“We are ready for all scenarios,” summarizes Siya Kolisi, third row of this selection. I say it frankly. We know that anything can happen. We were in the same position. We’re not going to languish forever, it wouldn’t do any good. We lost a match. The most important thing is to get up quickly. The sooner we do it, the more it will help us. » “Who would have said that we would win in 2019 after this defeat,” continues coach Jacques Nienaber. We lost against the best team in the world tonight, we are second. The margin is very fine. If we can correct little things, have a little more luck, of course we can win this World Cup. »
South Africa recognizes one point: “The pressure is on us now. We knew that this would be the case for the loser of the day. » For the rest, confidence does not seem to be affected among the reigning world champions, who will have 14 days of rest between the match against Tonga (October 1) and the potential quarter-final against the Blues (October 15). Same thing for the scorers, Faf de Clerk and Mannie Libbok, who each missed two kicks, costing the Springboks 11 points. “I know that you will explain the defeat with this reason but it is not the only one,” said Jacques Nienaber. It’s part of it but it’s not the only one. We lost too many balls on the rucks too. I want to pay tribute to this Ireland team. »
The Blues will undoubtedly have already analyzed the performance of the South Africans this Saturday and closely observed the successes of Ireland. All French eyes are on Antoine Dupont and his state of health. Perhaps even more so now that the South African colossi will appear opposite. Siya Kolisi and Jacques Nienaber also had a word for the French scrum-half: “We hope he will be back before the end of the competition. You always want the best to play. »
#presumptuous #South #Africa #thinking #Blues