Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus admits they were a bit lucky in their 19-16 World Cup semifinal win over Wales on Sunday.
South Africa scraped through the
contest to book a place in this coming Saturday’s final against England, who beat New Zealand 19-7 in their semifinal clash on Saturday.
Of the win over Wales, Erasmus says: “It was nerve-wracking at the end and I must say,
losing the previous four matches against them, it could have gone their way again.
“I’ve got so much respect for Wales and for their coach [Warren Gatland] that I thought those last few minutes, they might pull it through again.
“So I think [there was] a little bit of luck on our side. I am proud of our guys and proud to beat a team like Wales.”
SIMPLE PLAN: Erasmus. Picture: Issei Kato/Reuters.
The victory set up a repeat of the 2007 World Cup final - a match South Africa won 15-6 to be crowned world champions.
Erasmus believes they can repeat that feat against Eddie Jones’s men and says: “We are in the final of the World Cup, but that’s only halfway there.
Video: Kim Kay/African News Agency
“We would love to win the World Cup, we play a class England team in the final now. But we’re there, we’re got a chance and we might go all the way.”
BACK THE BOKS: Warren Gatland believes the Boks can take the cup. Picture: Mark Cristino/EPA.
Gatland, meanwhile, also believes the Boks can go all the way, saying: “South Africa have the physicality to match England.
“I thought England were outstanding [against New Zealand], but South Africa have a very good chance.
“They might have to be a bit more expansive in the way they want to play. They had a pretty simple game plan against us...”
Meanwhile, on home shores mense went mal and celebrated the Bokke making it to the final sharing well wishes on social media, even singing in shopping malls. Here are some of the celebratory notes:
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Springboks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Springboksdefeated Wales in semifinal #RainbowNation #Springboks #StrongerTogether #RWC2019 #RSAvWAL pic.twitter.com/bbv5ib75Ap
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/RWC2019?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RWC2019 #Springboks #StrongerTogether🇿🇦🏉 pic.twitter.com/ctGxZo6B7P
— ismaeel (@IsmaeelGabriels)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Springboks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="font-size: 12pt;">#Springboks #WALvRSA pic.twitter.com/xrA5GKCaEu
— Shane®👑🇿🇦 (@Triqqa_S)
EK IS NIE MAL NIE: Fans went crazy as the Boks made the finals of the Rugby World Cup. Video: Supplied.