Springbok fullback Damian Willemse admitted on Saturday that there might be some nerves, the team was embracing every minute of having the opportunity to defend the title they won in Japan in 2019.
De Allende also made reference to the team’s Rugby World Cup experience going into this encounter and said: “We won the World Cup four years ago through a lot of hard work and we’ve been putting in more hard work in the last three or four years, so we’ve done a fair bit to try to make the team better.
“We’ve also been in a situation where we’ve faced the hosts in a quarter-final, and although we’ll be nervous tomorrow, the entire squad is looking forward to the match.”
"I think you guys [media] are overthinking it, we have won a World Cup. We put a lot of hard work into 2019, these past three, four years we have put in a lot of hard work. I feel as individuals we have come a long way to make the team better.
I wouldn't say we are more relaxed, we have won a quarter-final before but that doesn't mean we won't be nervous tomorrow. I know for a fact all 23 guys playing tomorrow are looking forward to it."
On France centres Gael Fickou and Jonathan Danty de Allende said: "I think they are both great players. Obviously two very versatile players. Gael has very good touches and quick feet and Danty does as well. He is a bit more direct then Gael but I won't go into their strengths and weaknesses because I'll be giving something away but I am just looking forward to the challenge. I know Jesse [Kriel] is as well and I'm sure they are. Just excited for tomorrow, I can't wait to get going."
"I will try to play the situation in front of me but I am not going to shy away because they are a little bit bigger."
