South Africa’s eyes are firmly set on the Rugby World Cup semi-final against England, Springbok director of rugby Rassie Erasmus insisted. Photo: Odd Andersen / AFP
Rassie explains the decision to delay naming the Springboks team
Rassie Erasmus has explained the decision from the Springboks to delay the naming of their team to face France in the Rugby World Cup QFs.
South Africa’s eyes are firmly set on the Rugby World Cup semi-final against England, Springbok director of rugby Rassie Erasmus insisted. Photo: Odd Andersen / AFP
Rassie Erasmus says the decision to delay an announcement of the Springboks side to face France in the Rugby World Cup is purely tactical.
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Rassie is the king of mind games
Rassie Erasmus, a man infamous for his mind games and tomfoolery, has revealed why the Springboks have delayed the naming of their team to face France.
“The decision to delay the team naming is without a doubt tactical,” Erasmus answered candidly.
“We have been mixing and matching for the last year and making sure that in almost every single position we have two almost equally good players.
“In some cases, we are not even sure which one is the best, so we’re keeping our options open for a seven-one, six-two or five-three split.
“With both Handre [Pollard] and Manie [Libbok] being available, and Lukhanyo [Am] fully fit, we have sort of made up our minds.
“We want to see what the French team looks like too. That also might have an influence on us going seven-one or six-two.”
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SPRINGBOKS BOAST AWESOME RECORD IN FRANCE
South Africa has won 11 from 12 Rugby World Cup matches in France spanning showpieces in 1999, 2007 and 2023. The Boks have played at Paris’ Stade de France 10 times, winning seven of those. The only match the Springboks have lost at France’s national stadium was against Ireland last month in the pool stages. South Africa played and won all seven World Cup matches in 2007 matches in France to lift the William Webb Ellis trophy for the second time. Back to the present, the defending champions now focus all their attention on a meeting with France on Sunday at 21:00 in the nation’s capital. A place in the final four is up for grabs.
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