@Springboks
The Springboks will be playing for the 60 million South Africans when they line up against hosts France in their eagerly anticipated Rugby World Cup quarter-final on Sunday night.
This was the message from Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones, and players, Bongi Mbonambi, Cobus Reinach on Thursday, as they looked forward to the make-or-break clash.
"There are 60 million South Africans back home who are looking for hope and inspiration and we take that on ourselves, not as pressure, but as a massive privilege and honour," Mbonambi said in a statement from SA Rugby.
"Each player has different ways of preparing for a match, and when we are together, we do what we have to do, but when we get into the changeroom it's only about the Springboks and South Africa."
Jones said: "This is a hugely anticipated match against France at home in the World Cup quarter-final. There will be a large crowd with the majority of them being French, but we have 60 million people at home in South Africa and we'll be playing for them."
Reinach stressed the importance of entering the match in the right mental state, saying: "This is a World Cup quarter-final and there's a lot to play for. We try to keep our emotions out of our preparations because that can take you off course.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber will announce his matchday squad for the match on Friday, and Jones said the competition for places in the team was tight.
(SA Rugby)
