All the hard work and dedication comes down to this — Damian Willemse

All the hard work and dedication that the Bok players and management group have put in over the past four years comes down to this, a massive Rugby World Cup final against their fiercest rivals, the All Blacks, at the Stade de France on Saturday night.

The defending champs, who triumphed in Japan in 2019, have the chance to become just the second team in history to retain the Webb Ellis Cup after the All Blacks did it in 2011 and 2015, while becoming the most successful team in World Cup history with four titles.

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Bok fullback Damian Willemse says that the occasion is not lost on the players and what they have put in since their win in Japan four years ago.

“It would be massive. Not only for us as a team but for the country as well. It has been four years of hard work, sacrifice and dedication that has gone into this. From support staff, coaches and players sacrificing a lot of time from home, bodies on the pitch,” explained Willemse.

“We have lost Malcolm (Marx) and Makazole (Mapimpi) in the games so we are doing it for them as well as everyone back home. It is really special.

“But we are coming up against a great side in the All Blacks and they are not going to make it easy. It’ll be a fourth for whoever wins. The pressure we had in the quarter and semi-final has set us up nicely for the final.”

Stirs the heart

Bok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk admits that there is just something about the rivalry between South Africa and New Zealand that stirs the heart and says they have been receiving support from the class of 1995 who beat the All Blacks in the final on home soil.

“I don’t really know why but for me it doesn’t get bigger than this. It’s just a feeling you have inside, you can all feel it, the supporters can feel it … it’s spectacular,” said De Klerk.

“I’m looking forward to it so much – there’s a lot more to play for than just that cup. You’re going to see some unbelievable rugby on the weekend.

“Just through some messages (contact with players from the 1995 squad). There were a few of the guys at training sessions, so we’re feeling the support from them. We know how proud they made the country and how proud they are of us.”

Bok coach Jacques Nienaber remembers that match almost two decades ago and can’t believe how the game has changed since then.

“I remember it very well. I remember after the victory we were all in the streets. I was at uni (university) then. I watched it again about a year ago. It’s amazing how the game has changed,” said Nienaber.

“The game is a far better product now than it was back then, but not taking anything away from the game.”