Rassie Erasmus says South Africa do not buy in to criticism of opponents England
The defending champions are overwhelming favorites to win the Paris semifinal on Saturday.
Rassie Erasmus is adamant that South Africa won’t let the doubts about England’s potential to get to the World Cup semifinals to lull them into complacency.
To maintain their championship defense, the defending champions are overwhelming favorites to triumph over Steve Borthwick’s team in Saturday’s Paris match.
With many fans and commentators believing that England would lose in the group stages, the team entered the competition in terrible shape. However, Borthwick’s team is the only undefeated team in the final four and the lone representative from the northern hemisphere. While a favorable path has contributed to England’s comparatively easy advancement, Springboks director of rugby Erasmus is ready for a “very tough test” and emphasized the similar statistics between the two countries to drive home his argument.
“Our reality is the truth, not the reality that people create outside our camp,” he said at a Monday media session, “if we think England is bad because people from outside say that they are not doing well.” “We know that Borthwick is a great coach, as he demonstrated at Leicester and during his time as captain and player for England. We also know this because many of our players play against them in the Premiership.”A squad that hasn’t lost a game, given up around the same number of tries and scored the same number of points (as us), will make for an extremely difficult challenge.. “If you look at England, they scored 19 tries and got 180 points and we scored 26 tries and also have 180 points.
“Then, if you look at the side that has given up points, they have given up six tries, we have given up seven, and they have given up 63 points, while we have given up 62.”So, based just on the statistics, you can determine how close this game will be, however I am aware that statistics don’t always provide a whole picture. Three-time champion South Africa ended the hopes of hosts France, setting up a repeat of the 2019 championship, which they won 32–12. The Springboks defeated Ireland, their eliminated group phase rivals, 29–28 on Sunday night to take the top spot in the global rankings.
Regarding the matchup with Fabien Galthie’s side, Erasmus stated, “It was two teams that tactically, physically, and mentally tried to really push one another to the edge.” “I had a beer with the team after we defeated a really well-coached team, and I must say that the respect Galthie showed and the way he spoke to us afterwards was really humble and sincere.”