Handre Pollard says the Springboks are well aware that England will be using the humiliation of the 2019 World Cup final defeat as motivation for Saturday’s semi-final rematch.
The semi-final in France’s capital will be the first World Cup meeting between South Africa and England since that fateful day in Yokohama in 2019.
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A 32-12 victory saw the Springboks become the first team to suffer a pool defeat and go on to win the World Cup, while consigning England to a joint-record third World Cup final loss.
Since then, England and South Africa have faced each other twice at Twickenham, with the Roses snatching a 27-26 win in 2021, before the Springboks powered to a 27-13 triumph last November.
Speaking ahead of the semi-final, Bok flyhalf Pollard said he expects England to unleash their frustration of missing out on the Webb Ellis Cup four years ago.
“You could see on their faces four years ago the disappointment [after the 2019 final],” Pollard said. “I have been part of a squad that has been knocked out in the semi-final of a World Cup [in 2015] and it sits with you the rest of your life. There are a lot of things you look back on and think you could have done differently.
“I’m sure they will come with that mindset this week. I think they will be ruthless, I think they will take the intensity and physicality to a whole new level.
“That being said, we are ready for that, we are prepared for that and we enjoy that. If there is going to be beef, there is going to be beef.
“It’s test rugby, it’s 80 minutes and we have just got to play the game.”
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England have some insight into the South African camp, in former Bok high-performance coach Aled Walters.
The strength and conditioning guru played a key role in getting the Boks into the shape that saw them comfortably go the distance in humid conditions in Japan, before returning to England to take up a role with Leicester and then getting the call from national coach Steve Borthwick.
“Aled is a top man, we all love him a lot and I’m sure he is going to do great with England moving forward,” Pollard said. “I’m sure he will have some insights but that we expect.
“There’s not too much he can give away, it’s been four years and we have developed as a squad a lot. It’ll be an interesting weekend.”
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