Springbok icon Bakkies Botha is confident of victory for South Africa and New Zealand in their respective World Cup semi-final clashes this weekend.
Defending champions, the Boks are searching for a record fourth title and will lock horns with 2003 winners England in Paris on Saturday, exactly 24 hours after the three-time champs All Blacks face eighth-ranked Argentina, semi-finalists in 2007 and 2015.
Botha believes the Kiwis will maul Los Pumas, as they have proven they aren’t a team to be underestimated, while the former Bok enforcer backs his countrymen in their duel with the English.
In naming his favourites for the final-four showdowns of this year’s tournament, as the Optimizor brand ambassador, the 85-Test lock said on social media: “New Zealand versus Argentina… it’s always a big game to look out for.
“Argentina always shows up and won’t be underestimated and the All Blacks showed us against Ireland they are a team not to be reckoned with and when it matters they show up.
“The All Blacks will be too much for the Argentinians [and should win by] between 10 and 15 points.”
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Botha added: “And then it’s the big one Saturday evening at 9pm, South Africa versus England. It’s the 2019 finalists. This year they will be facing each other in the semi-finals.
“I must say I stand behind the Boks, to pull this one through against the English, I think we have that extra depth and extra reserves, the Bomb Squad whatever you want to call them.
“They also showed us against the French, the subs that came on, to make a big impact.”
Semi’s weekend is here and the battles will be epic! @BakkiesBotha4 shares his predictions for the big games. Watch as the Optimizor brand ambassador predicts the scores for the colossal showdowns: New Zealand vs Argentina, and the Springboks vs England.
What’s your prediction?… pic.twitter.com/gQx95oQO5V
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) October 19, 2023
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Photo: @Springboks/Twitter