At the Vélodrome stadium,
A victory for Scotland against Ireland next Saturday, with the offensive bonus. But with a minimum difference of 20 points, and a bonus also for the Irish. “With a score of 41-20, the Springboks are eliminated. I’ve done the calculation three times now, I’m sure of myself.” As for this journalist, the calculators were out on Sunday evening in the press conference room at the Vélodrome stadium, after South Africa’s victory against Tonga (49-18), for their last group match. And perhaps the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
But with this great success, the Springboks put all the chances on their side. In any case, they fulfilled their objective by gleaning as many points as possible from a match, and the five won against the “Eagles of the Sea” thanks to the offensive bonus acquired by Kriel (49th). “On the score, the first thing for us was to win, then to take the offensive bonus and then to score as many points as possible,” noted the South African coach, Jacques Nienaber, at a press conference.
“We call it a fixed match and I don’t believe it”
A first objective synonymous with five points, which allows them to move back to first place in Group B, the toughest, with 15 points ahead of Ireland, 14 points, and Scotland, 10 points. South Africa played its last group match on Sunday (3 wins, 1 loss against Ireland), yet “the ranking is not finished, we will only know who is qualified on Saturday, in a week”, said recalled Jacques Nienaber.
Because the second and third face each other next Saturday (9 p.m.) at the Stade de France in a Group B final, which could even eliminate the Springboks! In the event of an improved victory for Scotland by more than 20 points over Ireland, it is also in the bonus. A scenario as incredible as it is improbable, but which exists, you can believe our colleague’s calculator. And if the idea of an arrangement between the two neighbors crossed the conference room, Jacques Nienaber cannot, or does not want to, believe it:
“I think they call it match-fixing and I don’t believe it. We wear “Keep Rugby Clean” t-shirts, it’s not for nothing. Rugby is clean on this point. »
“We have to prepare, no matter if we play or against whom”
Still, the Springboks will spend a short week waiting. Friday, first, since the French XV plays Friday against Italy, the day after the All Blacks, and we will know the final classification of group A, and therefore of their potential opponent. Then Saturday, and this famous match between Scotland and Ireland, to find out if their World Cup continues. “It is only then that we can really prepare for our quarter-final,” warned the coach.
Until then, they will have three days of rest, “to think about something other than rugby”, which they should not have too much difficulty doing in their pleasant Var hotel. Before preparing for their next match with an extra dose of confidence after the return of Handré Pollard, author of a 4/4 at the foot against Tonga: “It’s no longer in our hands. We have to prepare for our match, no matter if we play it or against whom. We gave everything, now we wait to see what will happen. »
The reigning World Champions will be able, in addition to their opening half, to continue to rely on their experience from the 2019 World Cup. “The positive point is that we already experienced that in 2019. We had finished the group quite early and we had a dozen days before the quarter against Japan. It worked well for us at the time,” recalled Jacques Nienaber. It was already against the host country, and history could repeat itself this year with a quarter-final against the XV of France. Unless there’s a surprise, we told you.