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'They’ve got a chance': All Blacks win gives Springboks hope against France
By Josh Raisey
Former South Africa back-row and 2007 Rugby World Cup winner Bobby Skinstad believes the All Blacks‘ victory over Ireland on Saturday at the Stade de France will give the Springboks belief that they can do the same against France tonight.
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The All Blacks entered their quarter-final with Ireland as underdogs, with everything suggesting Andy Farrell’s side would win. Ireland are ranked the number one team in the world, they were unbeaten at the World Cup, they had beaten New Zealand the last time the two sides had met and they had won three of their four meetings since the 2019 World Cup. The exact same can apply for France and South Africa- Les Bleus are ranked second in the world, they are unbeaten at this World Cup and they beat the Springboks this time last year.
But speaking after the Ian Foster’s side pulled off a titanic 28-24 win in what he described as “one of the greatest clashes I’ve ever seen,” Skinstad said his compatriots will now think they have a chance of pulling off a similar upset at the same place this evening in the last quarter-final of the weekend.
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“I think it gives South Africa the thought that maybe they’ve got a chance,” he said. “It’s a team that’s ranked above you, a team that’s playing better than you, but you are able to knock them over on the night.”
The Springboks have already lost this World Cup, as had the All Blacks, and while the former flanker feels Fabien Galthie’s side are playing better than Jacques Nienaber’s, the All Blacks’ performance would have been just the tonic they would have wanted. Moreover, the events of the Springboks’ last meeting with the All Blacks – a record loss for New Zealand in August – compared to their last meeting with Ireland – a victory for Ireland in the pool stages- will give Siya Kolisi’s men more encouragement should they potentially meet them in the final.
Go Boks, leave it all out on the field, and may it be a great game without the ref being the main actor.
Turlough, we Saffas back home are bloody nervous. Thankfully we only have a WC every 4 years, as it is tough on the nerves. The nice thing is we get a chance this evening against France, and if we don’t win then the sun will come up and we move on. The WC is the one time every 4 years that all sides get to play after a decent prep time and not at end or beginning of season. The November games or even mid year tours often don’t have all the guys available or at the same stage of their season, so the playing field is even for all. So what has happened over the previous say 2-4 years is not necessarily what might happen when the top sides meet. Ireland found that out last night, so did Wales. And Argentina are the one side that has everything stacked against them as their players are scattered to find a side to play in. Well done ABs, I did say a number of times on RugbyPass that they would beat Ireland. Nice to be right.
Well done the Boks too, 3 out of the four in the Semis from southern hemisphere. Amazing rugby so far, two more games and then the big one, bring it on
Bokke all the way 🇿🇦🏉🥇🏆
SA for me. Got a 4 bet multiple QF winners Arg, ABs, Eng, SA. So far everything is proceeding to plan. Was going to pick Wales but the Good, Bad Rugby Australia boys were adament Arg. So have them to thank. Also expect Eng to grind down Fiji.
Ireland were beaten by the better team however we should have brought Crowley on with 15 mins left
Was it weak management that we didn’t
NZ have based their defense primarily on the Ireland attack. SA have had since the Ireland defeat to prepare for France as well as the insights from the lost Paris game in ‘22.
I also thought Ireland we’re a little nervous on the night which was exacerbated by NZ pressure. France won’t be.
France is even more nervous having a handicapped Dupont who won’t be playing at full capacity.
Ireland definitely nervous. Sexton was bricking it walking out next to angry Cane