South Africa captain Fourie du Preez hailed the side’s resolve after they avoided becoming the “worst Springbok team of all-time” by reaching a World Cup quarter-final against Wales.
Two-time world champions South Africa saw their 2015 tournament start in the worst possible fashion when they were beaten 34-32 by outsiders Japan in their opening pool match — one of the all-time great sporting upsets.
But they bounced back to top Pool B with three straight wins and will now face Wales in a last-eight clash at Twickenham on Saturday.
“It was obviously a massive shock, but it could have gone much worse,” du Preez told reporters at Twickenham on Friday as he reflected on the fall-out from the Japan game.
“We had Samoa next, which was a very big battle for us, and then Scotland, who are on the up. We could have lost three in a row and we would have been the worst Springbok team of all-time.”
The scrum-half added: “There was massive pressure for us, and I am very proud how each member of the team and management team stood up after that.
“We could either lie down or stand up, and I think that we showed that we stood up, and I think tomorrow we are going to stand up again.”
– Mental battle –
Du Preez was a member of the Springboks side that won the World Cup in 2007, defeated the British and Irish Lions in 2009 and scored a 3-0 series win against the All Blacks in 2010.
His talent was spotted when current South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer gave him his first start with the Blue Bulls in South Africa’s domestic Currie Cup competition at the age of 19.
But a successful Test career which began in 2004 appeared to have ended when du Preez retired from international duty after a shoulder injury curbed his ambitions during a disappointing 2011 World Cup for the Springboks which ended with a quarter-final loss to Australia.
Du Preez headed to Japan to play for Suntory Sungoliath but, at Meyer’s pleading, he returned to Springbok colours in 2013.
A knee injury, however, sidelined him again in 2014 and almost stopped him going to this World Cup, with the 33-year-old du Preez only declaring himself fit just weeks before the tournament started.
Once in England, he found himself unexpectedly thrust into the captaincy after first Jean de Villiers, with a broken jaw that ended the centre’s international career, and lock Victor Matfield (hamstring) were sidelined.
“It was obviously a very big compliment from the coach,” said du Preez. “I’ve worked really hard.
“It was a long battle for me to get back on the field. Then I played in Japan, everything went well and I had a nice off-season.
“Then I had quite a bad knee injury, so two or three weeks before the World Cup I wasn’t sure if I was still going to play rugby.
“I am very lucky to be here today. It was quite a mental battle, a physical battle as well.”
He added: “To be part of the team and then to captain the team, it’s just how things worked out, has been some journey for myself personally. After the first game, there’s no second chances now.”
Wales beat South Africa 12-6 in Cardiff in November last year to end a run of 16 straight defeats by the Springboks but du Preez said previous history would count for little on Saturday.
“It doesn’t matter which stadium, what record, what happened in the past games against Wales…we’re just looking forward to a massive battle.”