@Springboks
Springbok hooker, Bongi Mbonambi, says they know they must “pitch up” both mentally and physically for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against England, to avoid the pitfall of losing to a team that everyone but them is making the underdog.
He shot down suggestions that the Boks were favourites going into the match and said anything could happen in playoff rugby.
Mbonambi said in knock-out rugby, anything can happen.
Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said: “They are in a good space as a team and they are getting the results. We were impressed with their physicality against Fiji last week, and we feel they selected their best possible team.
“If you get to the semi-final you cannot underestimate any team. We know it will be a tough game and we’ll pitch up, just as they will. But just like them, we are well prepared. I believe the team that uses their opportunities the best will come out on top.”
Stick also noted that the England team was very different to the one they beat in Japan in 2019 to lift their third Webb Ellis trophy.
“This is a totally different team. They may have started slowly under Steve Borthwick (England head coach), but they’ve made a lot of changes in the way they do things.
“If they turn on the right buttons, they can be tough on the day. They’ll also be up for this challenge because of the history between the teams, so we’ll make sure we pitch up.
Stick said to win the Rugby World Cup you have to go through tough times, and to pull it through last week against France by one point, was “special for us and it prepared us well for this match.”
The Springboks face England at Stade de France at 9 pm Saturday night for a possible place in the final against New Zealand.
