[imagesource:instagram/Siya Kolisi]

The South African Springboks and the French Les Bleues played a lekker tight game on Sunday, October 15.

The Boks defeated Les Bleus 29-28 in the nailbiting game at the Stade de France, knocking the host team out of the Rugby World Cup in the quarter-final clash.

Former England coach, Clive Woodward, can eat his quarter-final predictions. Not only did he wrongfully expect France to take the win in the close contest with SA champs, but he also expected Wales to win over Argentina and Ireland to slash New Zealand out, too. Ha, little did he know…

While it was a close call for SA – with just one point difference between losing and winning – the Springboks coach refused to use the victory to rub salt in the wounds of France, even though some fans on social media did just that.

One X user scathingly referenced Paris’ bad bedbug problem in a quip about their loss:

To France , Sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite😉 #FRAvRSA pic.twitter.com/wF2meUNLTU

— Singa (@WINTERBOYSINGA) October 15, 2023

Meanwhile, captain Siya Kolisi’s post-match message was only gracious and kind:

 

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A post shared by RugbyPass (@rugbypass)

Even French fans praised him for his humility and class, per The South African:

“Thanks, even if we lost it, it was a fantastic game.”

“What a speech! Thank you for these words without arrogance 👏🇫🇷”

“It was an outstanding game. Congratulations to the Springboks, but also to the French team. They played a high level rugby today”

“This defeat is so hard guys 😔 🇫🇷 it was a fuck*n great match.”

Our local fans also celebrated Siya’s words and attitude, expressing pride in the Boks:

@paula.andropoulos
@siyakolisi 🇿🇦 you are the most gracious ambassador. You do us proud, win or lose. Thank you x

@hester4109
He’s classy. Rugby fans could learn alot from him on how to conduct themselves

@tilly170573
Best game I’ve seen in a long time!!! What an utter gentleman!!! All sports needs a Siya

@nicdoyle76
A lot of top sportspeople could learn a few lessons from this gentleman!! What a speech!!!🙌👏

“We scrambled a lot, especially when we were short of numbers,” said Kolisi about winning the match by the narrowest of margins in a statement via IOL.

“We talk about chasing lost causes. Don’t stop until they put the ball down over the try-line. Don’t do that and we’d be going home tomorrow. That’s what we do as a team. Never give up,” he concluded.

He said that France can be proud, especially “For their leader to be injured and come back and play as if he had never been away was incredible.”  French captain Antoine Dupont was able to return to the line-up after suffering a fractured cheekbone in the pool games to play the full 80 minutes.

All round champs:

 

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A post shared by Siya Kolisi (@siyakolisi)

The Springboks will go head-to-head with England in a semi-final clash on Saturday, 21 October at 21:00. This will be the country’s first meeting in the Rugby World Cup after SA defeated them in the 2019 finale.

Eish, ja. We look forward to winning.

[source:southafrican&iol]