Four years ago, the Springboks were thrust in the role of party poopers and they may well have to perform the same grim task when they tackle the Rugby World Cups host nation in the quarterfinals next Sunday (9pm).
The Springboks will play France at an expectant Stade de France, reprising the role they played in Japan en route to the title four years ago.
Their passage was confirmed after Ireland convincingly beat Scotland in the last Pool B match 36-14 in Paris last night. That meant Ireland finished on top of the pool and will now have to play New Zealand in a quarterfinal on Saturday (9pm).
It may well be a tetchy week for South Africa and France as they build up to the quarterfinals.
South African rugby fans will still feel a profound sense of injustice that the RWC is taking place in France in the first place after it was snatched away from SA Rugby as the preferred bidders in 2017.
Council members, however, voted otherwise. Bok fans will also feel their team’s most recent clash against France in November last year, should not have resulted in a narrow win for France.
The match officials in that clash were roundly criticised in the aftermath of the clash. While the bed bugs were biting in Paris, in the south the Springboks took to the salty waters of the Mediterranean before they started preparations for their potential quarterfinal.
Same Same is a private beach 19km east of Marseille where the players and their families frolicked in waters frequented by well-heeled sun seekers. A 15-minute walk away, the town is abuzz with tourists, with American, German and British accents the most prevalent.
Front-ranker Vincent Koch said most of the group had spent their time off with family. “The guys went for lunch and spent time away from rugby. Others went to play golf — just to clear [their heads] a little bit and be in a different environment.”
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick also expressed his appreciation for getting to spend some time with his family.
“A lot of other countries don’t have that opportunity,” said Bok lock Jean Kleyn. “When I was with Ireland in 2019, it was not something we were [able] to do. It’s been absolutely fantastic having our families with us. Any man is only as good as the people standing behind him.
“To have my wife and son with me [has] been an absolute joy — although with an eight-month-old baby you don’t sleep all the time! But it’s still worth it. We’re four months into our block that we’ve been with the Springboks. It’s a very long time.
“I don’t think it would be manageable if we [didn’t] have our families with us. It’s good that all the wives and girlfriends are also included, [and] they get to see each other as well. You form deeper bonds through that.”
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