Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok on Tuesday said he is expecting a massive battle against France on Saturday and admitted that although the hype surrounding the game was intense due to the Boks knocking Les Bleus out of the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final, their main focus was on trying to deliver a quality performance in Paris on Saturday at 22:10 (SA Time).
“We are preparing for this match as we do with every other Test, and within our team, the focus is on us and what we want to do on the field. We want to give our best for the team and the country, and for each of us it is a privilege to be here.
“Our past encounters against France have always been tough, and it shows what a quality team they are, and how hard it is to come here and face them, and this week will be no different.”
When pressed about the hurt the Boks’ 29-28 victory caused in France, as it marked their exit from the RWC, Libbok said: “It was obviously good for us to get the result in the World Cup. The match was very intense and physical, and it took a lot out of us. At the end of the day, one point separated the teams on the scoreboard, but we are pleased that we got the result.”
Libbok said that he was pleased with the evolution of the Springbok team in the last two years since the Rugby World Cup, and it said it has boosted their performance.
“Our main way of playing is still the same, but we’ve tweaked things here and there to expand our game and give the opposition different pictures, and it’s certainly helped us in the past two years,” said the fly-half who participated in both matches against France in 2022 and 2023.