Rugby World Cup news and Quarter-Final Fixtures

In the looming clash on Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Paris, the Springboks are gearing up to face off against France, with their sights set on the semi-finals.

After a weekend that saw Ireland emerge victorious over Scotland, the Boks secured the second spot in Pool B, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter with the tournament hosts in the French capital at 9 pm.

France enters the knockout stage undefeated, emerging unscathed from Pool A, which featured formidable opponents like New Zealand and Italy. The last face-off between the reigning world champions and France took place in Marseille at the end of 2022, resulting in a narrow win for the hosts. South Africa is determined to overturn that defeat, especially in the face of a passionate and hostile Parisian crowd.

Springbok scrum coach, Daan Human, himself a former Bok and Toulouse prop, acknowledges the challenge of playing the French in front of their fervent fans. Having experienced the intensity of French crowds, Human and the Springboks are prepared to silence them from the outset. Despite a 2022 defeat where the Boks played with 14 players due to a red card to Pieter-Steph du Toit, both teams have evolved since then.

Human emphasized the improvement in both teams, stating, “I think they are better than last year, but so are we. If you train hard, you’ll naturally get better as a team. They are strong in every department, which is why they are the No 2 team in the world.”

Containing the French setpiece, whether in scrums or line-outs, will be crucial. Versatile prop Trevor Nyakane, who missed out on the 2019 triumph due to injury, is geared up to contribute significantly. He emphasized the importance of set-pieces, acknowledging the emphasis placed on this aspect of the game in France.

Another pivotal player, eighthman Jasper Wiese, is expected to play a crucial role as a defender and ball carrier for the Boks. Wiese acknowledged the challenges ahead, particularly the big forward battles and intense collisions, emphasizing the need to nullify France’s momentum.

As the Springboks brace themselves for this epic encounter, they draw from past experiences, learning from their previous match against France. Fully aware of the enormity of the challenge, they are determined to confront the French head-on and secure their spot in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup.

The 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-finalists have been confirmed, with France, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, Wales, Fiji, England and Argentina progressing past the pool stages.

The winner of quarter-final 1 (Wales v Argentina) will face the winner of quarter-final 2 (Ireland v New Zealand).

Sunday’s action will decide the other semi-final with the winner of England v Fiji tackling the winner of France v South Africa.After a weekend that saw Ireland emerge victorious over Scotland, the Boks secured the second spot in Pool B, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter