Yokohama (Japan) (AFP)
The rivalry between New Zealand and South Africa "is at its peak" and the pool match between the two favorites of the World Cup Saturday in Yokohama, "it's 50/50", welcomed on Friday the captain of Springboks Siya Kolisi.
"We could be brought to find them," slid the first black captain in the history of the South African selection. It would be in the same stage, but for the final on November 2nd.
Q: What is your vision of the rivalry between the two countries?
A: "It's a rivalry that existed when I was little, they (the All Blacks) dominated until the last two years, and we had to fight for a little respect in return (the last four Oppositions have been ultra-tight, Ed.) We are in shape right now and the rivalry is at its strongest, the strongest since a hell of a time, so I can not wait to be there. "
Q: In 2015, you started the World Cup with a surprise defeat against Japan. Can this experience serve you in 2019?
A: "The team is very different now, the coaching is different, we do not want to start in the same way, and we have an opponent who wants to start well too, we have a long history and we have learned from the past, showing all respect to New Zealand and working hard on ourselves A defeat in the first game complicates things because then every game is like a final. "
Q: Does South Africa have a mental advantage after the draw (16-16) in Wellington at the end of July?
A: "I can not say, I'm not in the locker room (Blacks) .I was not there physically (hurt, Ed) but I could see in what state the guys were on the group WhatsApp. was tight and we can not say who took the ascendancy over the other since it was played at one point (24-25, October 2017), two points (36-34 in September 2018 and 30-32 in October), and a draw in the last, which is why this match is really important, to see where we are as a group.We never know, after that, we could be led to find them (in So it's a very big game, and I would not say we or they have the advantage, it's 50/50 at the moment. "
© 2019 AFP