Siya Kolisi paid tribute to the way the Springboks “chased lost causes” after a sensational comeback World Cup quarter-final victory over tournament hosts France on Sunday night.
The Springboks trailed 25-19 in the second half after losing enforcer Eben Etzebeth to a yellow card in the final play of the first half, but showed plenty of character to come from behind and see out a one-point win in hostile conditions in Paris.
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“We worked together as a team and we talked a lot about never giving up. We knew it would take something special and we did it today,” Kolisi said.
“France asked a lot of questions of us, but the character we showed stood out. We had a clear plan on what we needed to do, especially at the breakdown, and we had to fight for one another, especially in the last eight minutes of the yellow card. I’m proud of the guys and the discipline they showed.”
Kolisi said that the Boks prepared for the noise and atmosphere at the Stade de France – where the partisan home support jeered at any sort of foul play from South Africa and booed Etzebeth when he returned to the field – by using speakers in training.
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“Their team has been building for four years and we knew it would take everything (to win),” Kolisi added. “For a leader like Antoine [Dupont] to come back and to play the way he did was good.
“When we heard the anthems, we knew how loud it was going to be, but the French people can be proud of their team. It was a one-point game. Things like the charge-down from Cheslin [Kolbe], you don’t see that every day. We knew it would take something special.”
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France dominated territory and possession in a high-paced and frenetic match, but South Africa’s work-rate on defence kept the hosts tryless in the second half, after both teams scored three each in the first half.
“We scrambled a lot, especially when we were short of numbers,” Kolisi explained. We talk about chasing lost causes as a group, we don’t give up until they put the ball down over the tryline. We worked together as a team.
“If we hadn’t done that, we would be going home. We never give up. You can lose as a team, but as long as you don’t give up.”
The Springboks next face England in the second semi-final on Saturday night.
Photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP