OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cardiff | Wednesday 3.30pm.
THE Springboks will bounce back when they face New Zealand in the World Cup third-place playoff at the Millennium Stadium on Thursday night, flanker Rassie Erasmus has vowed.
The defending champions had expected to be playing in Saturday’s final, but were bundled out of the semi-finals by Australia.
Erasmus said every player in the South African side would lift themselves for one final effort against the All Blacks.
“Any player in our team who cannot get up for this game should not call himself a Springbok,” said Erasmus.
“There’s a history between us and them. When South Africa play against the All Blacks, we play against them for our honour. Every Springbok knows he must get up for it.
“And personally, as a flanker, playing against Josh Kronfeld is always an honour and a big challenge.
“There may be no silverware at stake, but we want to end this tournament on a high. We want to go out with a win. This match is big for us.” South Africa and New Zealand have met 53 times since 1921 with South Africa winning 24, New Zealand winning 26, with three draws.
The last time they met, in the penultimate Tri-Nations match in Pretoria in August, South Africa was outclaseed 18-34 by New Zealand.
The teams went into their the games in very different states. The Springboks had seen their title slipping away after losing their two opening games — a 28-0 thrashing by the All Blacks and a similarly heavy 32-6 reverse against Australia.
But there was to be no turnaround of fortunes at Loftus as Christian Cullen scored two tries and Andrew Mehrtens landed seven penalties. Jeff Wilson chipped in with a drop goal to stun the 51000 crowd.
South Africa’s points came from tries by Joost van der Westhuizen and two penalties and two conversions from Gaffie De Toit.
It was the Springboks’ fourth successive defeat and New Zealand had ensured the Tri-Nations title with a game to spare. — AFP