- Title: Breakdown battle could be decisive in All Blacks clash says Kolisi
- Date: 20th September 2019
- Summary: YOKOHAMA, JAPAN (SEPTEMBER 20, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SOUTH AFRICA HEAD COACH RASSIE ERASMUS WALKING OUT AT YOKOHAMA STADIUM FOR TRAINING SCRUMHALF FAF DE KLERK WALKING ONTO FIELD VARIOUS OF SOUTH AFRICA PLAYERS SINGING WHILST COMING ONTO FIELD SOUTH AFRICA PLAYERS ON FIELD LOCK EBEN ETZEBETH STRETCHING NUMBER EIGHT DUANE VERMEULAN AND PROP TREVOR NYAKANE THROWING BALL TO EACH OTHER DE KLERK SPINNING BALL PROP TENDAI MTAWARIRA STRETCHING CAPTAIN SIYA KOLISI WALKING WITH BALL KOLISI ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA CAPTAIN, SIYA KOLISI, SAYING: "I know how good they are. We've played against them for a while. I think me and Sam Cane were in the under-20s so I have seen him for a quite a while. We chat and learn a few things from each other but you can't wait for ref to help in the breakdown. They have been doing it for quite a while and they have been doing it very well. Ardie (Savea) has got the most in Super Rugby. So, we will have to sort it out ourselves, you have to get in there quickly. I think that is where they were strong in the game we played in Pretoria last year, that's where they won the game. It is a big focus of the game because it can be won and lost there." ERASMUS KICKING BALL ERASMUS CATCHING BALL PLAYERS STRETCHING CENTRE DAMIAN DE ALLENDE STRETCHING KOLISI STRETCHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA CAPTAIN, SIYA KOLISI, SAYING: "I think it is good. I think it is a good way to start the World Cup, to play them at the beginning. If you are going to play them anyway in your pool stage and I think it is the perfect time to play them now. I think they will also think the same thing. Instead of waiting and waiting you know? Some guys will hesitate if they think the big one is coming but it is proper that we can prepare from the beginning now and see what we can do after that." PLAYERS TRAINING ETZEBETH TRAINING DE KLERK THROWING BALLS FULLBACK WILLE LE ROUX TRAINING / WINGER MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA CAPTAIN, SIYA KOLISI, WHEN ASKED WHAT HE WILL SAY IN SPEECH TOMORROW, SAYING: "I don't think I need to speak, at all. We have all worked hard for this moment since we were young, and that's all we ever wanted to do, was to be Springboks and some of us never dreamt of being at the World Cup and now it is happening. So, I really don't have to say anything to the team. The guys know. The opposition that we are playing as well, nobody needs to motivate you. All is there for you." PLAYERS TRAINING DE ALLENDE WARMING-UP CENTRE JESSE KRIEL WARMING-UP VARIOUS OF MAPIMPI WARMING-UP PLAYERS WARMING UP VARIOUS OF FORMER CAPTAIN JEAN DE VILLIERS SPEAKING TO OFFICIALS OFFICIALS LAUGHING DE VILLIERS CLASPING HANDS WITH OFFICIALS NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH AFRICA FLAGS IN YOKOHAMA STADIUM
- Embargoed: 4th October 2019 07:00
- Keywords: Japan South Africa New Zealand Siya Kolisi Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup
- Location: YOKOHAMA, JAPAN
- City: YOKOHAMA, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Rugby Union,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001AXGMXQ7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: South Africa captain Siya Kolisi said on Friday (September 20) that speed to the breakdown will be a major deciding factor in Saturday's (September 21) Rugby World Cup opener against New Zealand in Yokohama, where he will come up against a pair of familiar foes.
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has picked two 'fetchers' in Ardie Savea and Sam Cane for the Pool B clash, pointing to the tackle area as a key battleground in a game expected to be a tight forward tussle.
Kolisi will shoulder much of the responsibility of countering their threat and said the game would be all about getting to the ball on the ground first.
South Africa have been talking all week about their hope that referees will show fairness to all sides in key moments during the World Cup, and Frenchman Jerome Garces will have his hands full at the breakdown on Saturday. But Kolisi said South Africa must be masters of their own destiny.
The Boks skipper also added they are happy to meet New Zealand in their opening match, rather than having the biggest fixture in their pool hanging over them later.
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