VIDEO: Siya reveals the 'real heroes' of Paris win
There were numerous ‘moments’ in South Africa’s one-point World Cup quarterfinal win over France in Paris this past Sunday.
The most-match media debriefings highlighted Cheslin Kolbe’s famous charge-down, Kwagga Smith’s breakdown work, numerous cross-cover tackles.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said at times his teammates were chasing “lost causes”, but kept chasing – eventually securing a come-from-behind 29-28 win over Les Bleus at Stade de France.
However, the most important work was not done during the game.
It was done during countless hours on the training field and the ‘real heroes’ were the members of the non-playing squad.
“I think it’s in the week, the guys who didn’t play – the pictures they show us,” Kolisi told @rugby365com, when asked to name the most significant incident in the game.
“It is tough for those guys when they are not selected, but [that is] the selflessness of the players that did not play.
“The pictures they have to show [in training].
“They have to act like they are the French team,” he said of the Springbok practice of having non-playing members of the squad simulating the opposition team’s tactics.
“That [the non-playing squad] was special.
“The bench when they came on. The substitutions were made early in the game [second half] and they made a huge difference.
“That’s what this team is about.
“When you get taken off, we knew how much support they need.
“We were screaming at the side of the field, shouting from the bench and getting them up.
“That was important.
“The way they played, the guys that came off the bench, is what we are going to need going forward.”
(WATCH as Springbok captain Siya Kolisi explains to @king365ed about who he regards as the ‘real heroes’ of their one-point win over France this past Sunday…)
Kolisi was full of praise for the character of his team in a match where they came from behind to secure their place in the semifinal.
“We scrambled a lot, especially when we were short of numbers,” said Kolisi about a yellow card to lock Eben Etzebeth in the 39th minute for a ‘cynical foul’.
“We talk about chasing lost causes.
“[We] don’t stop until they put the ball down over the tryline. Don’t do that and we would have gone home.
“That’s what we do as a team. Never give up.”
“We knew it would take something special and we did it today.
“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 eight minutes of the yellow card [after the half-time break].
“I’m proud of the guys and the discipline they showed.”
@king365ed
@rugby365com
