Rugby News Oct 8 (2)

South Africa primed and ready for Fiji in quarter-finals

MARSEILLE: There's no disguising this one. South Africa vs Fiji should be a mismatch of a Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

Fiji would have to produce the perfect game to upset South Africa and advance to the semi-finals. So that's what coach Ilie Tabua is asking his squad to do.

Fiji qualified for their first World Cup quarter-final since the inaugural edition in 1987 with a 38-34 upset last weekend over Wales, considered the best match so far of the tournament.

“After a win like that it would be easy for the players to think 'this is done'. It can be hard to get the focus back,'' Tabua said. “But we have told the players we need to perform better than last week. We are aiming to play the perfect game.

“If you can play the perfect game ... the result will come.''

But something about the vibe in the South African squad indicates they're not about to let a golden chance for a second World Cup title slip lightly.

“We've come to a stage now where the big guns have to put their hands up,'' said winger Bryan Habana, who has crossed for six tries in three matches. “I'm very excited.''

Coach Jake White is wary of the Fijian running game, and named the most experienced ever Springboks lineup to shut them down.

The draw has opened up perfectly for the Springboks with the recognised heavyweights on the other side in the knockout rounds.

The winners of the South Africa-Fiji match meet either Argentina or Scotland in the semi-finals, increasing Springbok confidence of making the final.

“The most important thing for us is not wondering who we're going to be playing against,'' White said. “Because when we left South Africa people were saying we'd be playing Wales in Marseille.

“People said that France would win their pool and they didn't. None of those things have occurred.''

South Africa won all four group games, including a 36-0 thumping of defending champion England. Fiji had three tight wins over Japan, Canada and Wales, and their second-string lineup was trounced 55-12 by Australia.

With that in mind, veteran prop Os du Randt, the only survivor of South Africa's World Cup winning team and the 1996 Test win over Fiji, thought the Springboks were ideally placed.

“I couldn't have asked for a better scenario – it's like first prize for us,'' du Randt said. “But first prize really would be if New Zealand don't make it'' to the final. – AP