Boks will be ready for rivals’ impressive brute force, insists

SOUTH Africa’s forwards coach Matt Proudfoot has spent the week working out a response to the performance by England’s pack against New Zealand last Saturday that he summed up in one word: “Wow.”

New Zealand, the favourites to win the semi-final and keep hold the trophy they had retained in 2015, were knocked back in challenge after challenge, culminating in their captain, Kieran Read, being stopped dead on the charge by Sam Underhill.

South Africa are expected to provide England with their most physical challenge this tournament, but Proudfoot noted that New Zealand fell victim to brain as well as brawn.

“I think the final will be very tight,” said Proudfoot. “England were very efficient and powerful against New Zealand. But it was not just about brute force. There was a lot of very intelligent play from their pack. I was very impressed with what I saw. We know it will be a big challenge.

“We played them four times last year, but as a pack they are a lot more confident in what they are doing. There is more understanding about what they want and so they are executing better.

“The New Zealand game was a great one to watch and they will look to play the same way. As a team we watched it and went: ‘Wow’. They were just great.

“We know what we are up against, but I have been impressed with how mature our guys have become.

“A number of them have played in the World Cup before and our coaching philosophy is to empower them. We know the pressure a final can bring and it will come down to which side does what they do better.”

South Africa’s captain Siya Kolisi will win his 50th cap in the final and the veteran frontrow Tendai Mtawarira paid tribute to the impact the flanker has made since he was appointed by head coach Rassie Erasmus last year.

“What he has achieved is remarkable,” said Mtawarira. “He has come from being a young kid in a Port Elizabeth township and risen above his circumstances to become the Springbok captain and an inspiration to South Africans in all walks of life.

“Winning the World Cup would cap my long career, but we will not be getting ahead of ourselves. Rassie has made a big difference. He says it as it is, and that was not something I had experienced before. The players really respect him.”

Meanwhile, Warren Gatland says “it has been some experience” as he prepares to call time on his success-laden Wales coaching career.

Gatland’s 12-year reign will end following the World Cup bronze medal match between Wales and New Zealand in Tokyo tomorrow.

He will return home to New Zealand and take charge of Hamprobably