-
FILE | Boks’ players celebrate QF win against France at 2023 World Cup
Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones tried hard not give South Africa’s next match on their end of year tour, against France, any more je ne sais quoi that it already has.
The Boks are in Paris to face France in a rematch the 2023 quarterfinal which set the Green and Gold on their way to defending their World Cup title.
While the coaches want to put a lid on talk of revenge, players such as Kurt-Lee Arendse say it will very much be about France seeking revenge for what the Boks did to them at their national stadium two years ago.
The Boks romped to a 61-7 victory over Japan at Wembley stadium to kick-off their end of year tour. It was a clinical display, and while the coaching box will inevitably find some work-ons, it all bodes well for this week’s crunch fixture against France at the Stade de France in Paris.
French rugby journalists are calling this test the biggest of the year for France, but Jones was quick to pump the brakes on talking up what could be a contender for the match of Autumn Internationals at the very least.
“I wouldn’t say any single test match is bigger than another one there has been some big matches for us this year that we played against New Zealand, we lost a test match against Australia at home, we also have Italy after this game and Ireland and Wales later in this series so for us every test match is massive any time. We are representing South Africa, it is huge but I can understand the extra attention that this match gets because of the quarterfinal in 2023 just like Ireland and New Zealand had quite a special match in 2023 as well and played on the weekend so yeah, I can understand the extra attention,” says Jones.
If the coaching staff in the Bok set-up are trying to talk down the encounter, player of the match against Japan, Kurt-Lee Arendse, was more to the point.
“We are going to have to prepare well for France because I think they will come with revenge from the World Cup. So, I think we must plan well and stick to that plan,” says Arendse.
The Boks next match on tour is big because it counts towards the world rankings and that counts towards the seeding for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
That draw happens early next month.
