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'Winning the World Cup is everything... that's all I'm thinking about right now'

By Online Editors

16 Jul 2019

Tendai Mtawarira has missed a number of months through injury but he is ready to return for the Springboks next Saturday (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/ Getty Images)

Tendai Mtawarira believes that winning the World Cup with the Springboks would eclipse everything he has achieved in his glittering career so far.

The Sharks prop currently holds the record for the most appearances by a South African in the Super Rugby tournament.

But with more than 100 Test caps, a Tri-Nations title and a British and Irish Lions series victory to his name, the two-time veteran of World Cups (2011 and 2015) is ready to put his body on the line for his country in the hope of achieving his ultimate goal.

“I’m super excited and I have been thinking about it for the last four years,” said the Boks’ self-styled ‘Beast’ at his team’s hotel in Johannesburg. “It is the big occasion this year and it’s all about giving my mind and body to the Springboks and really showing up for every single game.

“For me winning the World Cup is everything. Being part of a successful World Cup team is everything and right now that’s all I’m thinking about. I need to work harder than ever to put in great performances and really contribute to the success of this team going forward.”

(Continue reading below…)

Mtawarira has been out of action since suffering a knee injury against the Waratahs in a Super Rugby round-robin match in April, but the 33-year-old explained he has recovered from his injury and is raring to run out onto the field on Saturday against Australia in the Rugby Championship.

“I feel great. I’ve had a lot of time to recover from it, so I feel really fresh. These last couple of weeks have been really great to be put through our paces and really feel fitter and stronger. I’m in a great position to go out there and do the job.”

https://twitter.com/Beast_TM/status/1149697093038223367

Mtawarira added he has been impressed with the attitude of prop Lizo Gqoboka, one of the uncapped players in the Boks squad.

“He has been a sensation. I speak very highly of him because he is such a nice guy, one of the most humble guys I’ve ever met. He is always willing to learn and he is playing great week in and week out and really deserves his chance.”

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Comments on RugbyPass

JW 9 minutes ago

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

They did. In 2020.

Would have been WC victory with Razor in charge last year! Schmidt would have been pulled in to help Rennie and these performances would have built up last year for Aussie (instead of his incfluence helping NZ) and they would have been riding a high of returning players and league signings building to the B&I Lions and a RWC at home. And then Smchidt would have been ready to take the mantel of the All Blacks this year!

Oh how it could have been so so different if Robinson had of realised the folly in the handme down appointments policy they had back then.

7 Go to comments

JW 15 minutes ago

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

IDK if you can say that, and as I contended before the game, I don't know if you can really call it the strongest side (selecting fatigued players) either. Which would certainly be one of many of Razor's failings this year if was the case (yet to watch). Wasn't that also the top side's last hit out before Ireland?

7 Go to comments

JW 20 minutes ago

‘Right a few wrongs’: Ex-Wales flyer’s message of intent with Crusaders

Definitely as Christchurch based decline if you believe some.

9 Go to comments

JW 23 minutes ago

‘Right a few wrongs’: Ex-Wales flyer’s message of intent with Crusaders

23% is a fair reflection of the that was turning out last year imo.

It's not the same comp with non NZ easy beat teams to inflate yuor record anymore.

You might be disheartened for me to predict a semi final performance and Penney that is wanted back. Can you deal with that? 😝

9 Go to comments

JW 26 minutes ago

‘Right a few wrongs’: Ex-Wales flyer’s message of intent with Crusaders

Pretty much now the only old fart retained from last year isn't he? Still has some solid legs under him but probably lucky he signed before Hutchinson got a chance to impress in the NPC (which I was surprised he did after I thought he stalled a lot of the U20's flair in the JRWC this year).

9 Go to comments

_Ty 28 minutes ago

All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

No way Beauden gets a 9.5. He gave up possession too easily by kicking the ball away. Either too long or just aimless. One of those kicks lead directly to the Italians only try. He also missed the last tackle too, so he couldn't even clean up his mistake.

8 Go to comments

Head high tackle 32 minutes ago

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

I thought they were very inept Sadersman. That was a horrible performance and just adds to the year where just when we think they are improving they do this. Look at the way Schmidt has turned Aus around. Perhaps NZR made the wrong choice.

7 Go to comments

John 32 minutes ago

The Wallabies have a serious problem

Yeah, defs a decent player, I can't personally say because I haven't been watching him, but I would hazard a guess he isn't more dominant than a AAA or perhaps a HJH?

13 Go to comments

Head high tackle 34 minutes ago

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

I think all you need to do is look at Aus to see where the big issue is for the ABs. Aus can turn a world cup pool failure to beating England in the same time Razor has taken the ABs from a 1 point loss in the WC last year to an absolute rabble this year. ABs won 91-17 v Italy last year with our so called B side. This was Razors strongest side yet were terrible. They look like they met yesterday.

7 Go to comments

JW 40 minutes ago

All Blacks survive physical Italy scare after captain carded

Yeah they're away of it too. It was brought up in one of the Italian focused articles. They are performing now and trying to move out of that 'being in awe' type attitude.

Very easy to say we're good enough to put all our focus on wining this last big game of the year (this one) though, you also need to be consistent and still perform in the other games (slip up against Georgia) and not get ahead of yourself. Not think you're too good for teams like Argentina and Georgia just because theres a shift in attitude towards thinking 'were good enough to beat anybody now'. Hope they go forward from here but I think this performance is still only good enough to keep them off wooden spoon 6N position (keep them well away from the bottom mind you).

2 Go to comments

JW 47 minutes ago

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

Yeah I predicted (out of thin air) it to be more like 30 points between them. You don't think it wasn't more like that because they picked jaded players?

Will have a look at the game now I guess.

7 Go to comments

JW 52 minutes ago

Lamb to the slaughter? Italy aim to 'get stuck into' All Blacks

Don't mind me lol I just thought it was funny that you saw the opportunity to show some good parochialism at the end of this article. I thought we were going to have an interesting Italian perspective on the game to read (which we could counter attack with our perspective etc), instead it was about an Englishmans perspective on the game/rugby (which I wasn't interested in replying to at all).

Oh, and I also should be always in that last sentence. Can't say I've even seen a 6N without a bunny team but it certainly wasn't Italy this year!

6 Go to comments

Tk 53 minutes ago

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

A messy season. New coaches, systems, philosophies it was always a start if something new. But I'm disappointed at how players who continue to not come up with the goods are retained and most if not all debuts were down to injuries rather than inspired selection. This season was the honeymoon, more has to be delivered next year.

7 Go to comments

JR 58 minutes ago

Wales player ratings vs South Africa | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

So Jac Morgan is the only player to receive a positive rating, the rest all graded negative scores out of 10. About sums it up perfectly!

1 Go to comments

Tk 59 minutes ago

All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

Apart from scrum a pretty poor performance I thought. Again more aimless kicking away possession from BB. We badly need new 10, 12 & 13.