SPRINGBOKS made France suffer during a fierce quarter-finals battle this past weekend.
Winning by 29-28, Boks benefited from the hosts silly conversion mistakes as Cheslin Kolbe charged down of France’s Thomas Ramos’ attempted conversion that went horribly wrong.
The French fullback hit Kolbe’s forearms, a sign of the speed at which the winger had made up the ground to the kicker.
“One tends to pick up cues of certain players and their processes when they kick,” Kolbe said. “I think it helped and I was by the book and by the law from being onside and behind the line.
“I just went out there, ran as fast as I could to try to block the kick and make him feel some pressure. I was hoping that they didn’t refer the kick, but I was sure that I was onside.”
The two squandered points by Ramos came back to bite France at the death. They were the side who had the bulk of the possession but did not make meaningful impact in the second half.”
The defending champs Boks have secured a date with the stubborn England in the semis next Saturday.
“It was two teams that tactically, physically and mentally tried to really push one another to the edge.
“Yes, a relief to beat a team that is so well coached, which afterwards I had a beer with and I must say the respect that he showed and the way he spoke to us afterwards was really humble and sincere,” says Director of rugby Rassie Erasmus, who reflected on the match.
“Yes we did enjoy it, with the afternoon off on Monday for the players. We do our work and tomorrow Wednesday, morning we announce our team internally,” says Erasmus.
Famous Sun-City resort in the North West, was brought to a standstill as guests and media that were invited for the traditional Nedbank Golf Challenge Final Round for sponsors this past weekend, which signals the closing of the golf course until tournament week, was abuzz.
Clad in the green and yellow attire, kids and ou- toppies enjoyed the game at the special screening, feasting on meat, pap, wors and various beverages on offer.
Image (Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt Lee Arendse, who both converted tries against France to make it to the semis next week Saturday to face England).
