Springboks ready to once again embrace World Cup pressure — Wiese

The Springboks are gearing themselves up for the massive pressure that they will be facing when they take on Rugby World Cup hosts France in a huge quarterfinal clash between the number two and three ranked teams in the world at a sold out Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Sunday night.

It is one of two blockbuster quarterfinal clashes at the stadium this coming weekend, with world number one ranked Ireland taking on world number four ranked All Blacks at the same stadium on Saturday night.

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Two of the world’s top four teams will thus be on their way home at the end of the quarterfinal phase, showing just how lopsided this year’s World Cup has been between the two halves of the draw.

The Boks arguably face the biggest pressure, taking on the hosts in their own backyard in front of what should be a largely partisan crowd, but despite this challenge it is something they are privileged to have according to eighthman Jasper Wiese.

“We talk about pressure but it’s a privilege to have the pressure that we’re under. You feel pressure your whole life in South Africa as well,” explained Wiese.

“It’s difficult back there, but it’s a privilege to represent 60 million people and to represent 33 guys and the management here to make them proud and just to enjoy it and leave everything out on the field. There’s definitely a bit of pressure but we enjoy it.”

What to expect

The Boks had a taste of what to expect when they took on France at a packed Stade de Marseille on last year’s end-of-year-tour, with the hosts emerging as 30-26 winners in front of a jubilant home crowd.

“We could barely speak to each other. I didn’t play in that game, I was sitting in the stands and you could barely speak to each other,” said Wiese.

“You feed off that energy that the people are giving. Obviously they’ll be shouting for France but we won’t know it, because, well, some of the guys understand French but I don’t.”

A key battle in the match will be waged between the two heavyweight packs as they both will be eager to gain the upper hand and give their exciting backlines the perfect platform to attack off.

“They’ve got a very big pack but we’ll be up for it. I don’t think there will be a lack of intensity or anybody standing back for them,” admitted Wiese.

“It’s always a really nice challenge when you come up against a pack like that. You saw against Tonga as well, we like it when teams play with big packs against us. That’s when we rise to the opportunity.

“It’s definitely going to be big but the collisions will be bigger and there will definitely be a few sore bodies.”

Both sides could also be welcoming maverick players back for the game with Bok centre Lukhanyo Am possibly in line for a recall, as well as French scrumhalf Antoine Dupont who resumes training this week after fracturing his cheekbone earlier in the competition.