Siya Kolisi said on Friday that he expects an epic encounter against France, who they defeated 29-28 the last time the teams crossed paths in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal, and he said the battle up-front and in the backline would be massive.
“This game is a big game for us, it’s like a knock-out game,” said the soon-to-be Test centurion.
“We also know how big the (world ranking) points will be for us if we win the match, so we are going out there with that mindset, and we are looking forward to the game.
“Obviously, this match has different factors behind it, but for us, it’s a game we have to win so we can keep on being the top side in the world and get a good pool for the World Cup draw.
“We’ve seen in the media the hurt France is still carrying (from 2023), but for us, our purpose is constant. And that’s to represent our people and country, and also to win for coach Rassie to have a team that is transforming and building squad depth all the time. At the end of the day, it’s all about what’s going to happen between those four lines tomorrow.”
Kolisi elaborated on this saying: “Games against France are always big because it’s two big packs facing one another, and it’s important that the scrums and lineouts are dominant. They also have good backs, but so do we, and we are very similar teams with passionate fans, so there are many similarities between the sides.
“Physicality is going to be important tomorrow because winning the gain line and the breakdowns will determine which team wins, and of course, the side that uses their opportunities best.”