Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick calmly outlined the challenge facing the Boks in an epic Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France at a packed Stade de France on Sunday.
“There are no second chances now,” Stick told media on the eve of match press conference at the tournament’s main media centre at Roland Garros.
"It is going to be a tough occasion. They are playing at home but we are also here to represent our country. We have been here before, we understand the challenge and hopefully, we will be on the right side of the scoreboard.”
“If we don’t pitch up it will be the end of our tournament. It’s going to be a tough match especially with France having the home crowd behind them, but we are also going out there to represent our country.
"It's very special to have our South African fans to come all the way to support us. It shows how much it means to our country. We know people back at home are really behind us 100 per cent, that is how big the game is. It's bigger than us."
“It doesn’t get bigger than this (playing the hosts at home), and they are also in a good space as a team. They won all their pool matches and this included a victory against the All Blacks.
“But, for us, we’ve been in this situation before when we played Japan in a playoff match at the last World Cup. “In that tournament, every match was a final for us, so we know the importance of having to capitalise on our opportunities. It’s a big moment for us, we’re well prepared, and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”
"We are playing against France and we know they are also in a good space as a team. They have won all their games, they had a big game against the All Blacks in the first game of the group stage and did very well. The nice thing for us is we have been in this position before. In Japan in 2019, it was the same thing, playing Japan with all their supporters. It is the nature of the game in a World Cup, you have to go through the tough ones.
"At least we have a good reference point. We have been here before. Every game we play now, we can’t afford not to capitalise on the opportunities that are created. It is going to be a tight game. We are well prepared but we will see tomorrow. It doesn’t get bigger than this."