VIDEO: 'It doesn't get bigger than this'

South Africa will put their reputation on the line in the biggest match since the 2021 British and Irish Lions series when they tackle hosts France at Stade de France in Paris on Sunday.

For the winners there awaits a place in the semifinals.

For the losers, however, it would spell an early exit from a tournament that both believe they can win.

Mzwandile Stick, the Springboks’ assistant coach, admitted the anticipation for Sunday’s face-off is bigger than for the pool game against Ireland last month or even the match against France in Marseille last year.

“It is the play-offs,” Stick told @rugby365com, adding: “There is no second chance.

“It’s a big game playing against the host nation.

“They are also in a good space as a team.

“I think this is way bigger than the game against Ireland.

“If we don’t pitch up, it could be the end of the tournament for us.

“We will make sure that we pitch up, we’ve done all our prep.

“It is going to be a tough occasion.

“They are playing at home and we know how [vocal] their supporters are, but we are also here to represent our country.

“We have been here before, we understand the challenge and hopefully we will be on the right side of the scoreboard.”

(WATCH Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick previews the World Cup quarterfinal encounter with France in Paris on Sunday…)

After losing narrowly to Ireland during the group stages, the Boks have felt the pressure of defending their World Cup title mounting.

“Yho’, it doesn’t get bigger than this,” Stick said.

“We are playing against France and we know they are also in a good space as a team.

“They have won all their games, they had a big game against the All Blacks in the first game of the group stage and did very well.

“The nice thing for us is we have been in this position before.

“In Japan in 2019, it was the same thing, playing Japan with all their supporters.

“It is the nature of the game in a World Cup, you have to go through the tough ones.

“At least we have a good reference point.

“We have been here before.

“In 2019, we lost [the opening pool match] against the All Blacks.

“[Then,] every game we played was like a final.

“Every game now, we can’t afford not to capitalise on the opportunities that are created.

“Play-offs games are tight games.

“The team that best converts their opportunities into points, will have a good chance to win.

“We are well prepared, but we will see tomorrow [Sunday].

“It doesn’t get bigger than this.”

@king365ed
@rugby365com