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Mbonambi reveals Boks' peculiar way of preparing for ‘hostile’ French crowd
Bongi Mbonambi revealed South Africa have been training with background noise to prepare themselves for the “hostility” they will encounter from a partisan French support in Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final showdown at Stade de France.
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The Springboks are set to be heavily outnumbered inside the 80,000-capacity Saint-Denis arena, with masses of Les Bleus fans intent on helping their side maximise home advantage as they aim to land the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time.
South Africa are well accustomed to dealing with uninviting environments, however, and hooker Mbonambi explained why they will not be fazed by being cast as the unwanted interlopers attempting to ruin the tournament hosts’ party this weekend.
“The atmosphere is going to be massive,” said the 32-year-old Boks forward. “We have tried to simulate the noise in training so that when it comes to the match on Sunday, it’s not the first time we have experienced it and it doesn’t come as a shock to us.
“We know they are going to be singing and everything like that but we’ve just got to embrace it and try to focus on our game-plan.
“We will just take the atmosphere as it is. We have played them in Marseille (last November), which was a very hostile atmosphere, so we have experience of that.
“It will be hostile but for us as a team we have to focus on executing our plan. It is very important for us to shut out the noise.”
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South Africa lost 30-26 to France in a closely-contested encounter in Marseille but Mbonambi expects a more ferocious showdown this time.
“I think the intensity is going to be way more than Marseille,” he said. “That was just an end-of-year Test match. This is a World Cup quarter-final so there’s a lot on the line.”
Although they will be in the minority in the north of Paris on Sunday, Mbonambi insisted the Springboks will be fuelled by a knowledge that they have their nation behind them.
“Back at home we have 60 million South Africans who are looking for hope and inspiration and we take that out on the pitch,” he said. “That is special. It is a massive privilege and a massive honour.
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“Different players have different ways of preparing and when we’re on that bus together you do what you have to do to make sure your attention is just on the Springboks, just on South Africa.”
Prior to their defeat in Marseille last year, South Africa had won seven matches in a row against Les Bleus, including their last meeting at Stade de France five years ago.
“It was 2018, a long time ago, but it was a special game in a special stadium,” said Mbonambi, who played in that 29-26 victory. “We know they are not the same team that they were then and they have been working hard for this.
“We are expecting a totally different challenge and obviously the atmosphere will be way different to what it was in 2018.”
Mbonambi also played at the last World Cup when South Africa landed the glory in Japan. He is eager to experience that thrill again but knows there is still plenty work to do if that is to materialise over the coming weeks.
“It is definitely very inspiring,” he said of the 2019 triumph. “We know we are the defending champions and we know we have a huge task playing the host nation again in a quarter-final (the Boks beat Japan 26-3 in the last eight four years ago).
“It is very exciting. We take confidence from that (being champions) but that was four years ago. Rugby has changed: players are bigger, stronger, fitter.”
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
1
Draws
0
Wins
4
Average Points scored
23
27
First try wins
60%
Home team wins
40%
Mbonambi insisted his team will not tone down their physical approach despite France forward William Servat suggesting on Wednesday that South Africa “can be very violent” in terms of the intensity they bring to a match.
“Can be violent? That’s the first time I’ve heard of that,” said Mbonambi. “We obviously pride ourselves on being physical and confrontational.
“But we know the French pack always like being confrontational and we will embrace that. We are definitely going to express ourselves as South Africans.
“Whatever way they want to put it, it’s a rugby game, it’s a collision sport, and we love the collisions. We’re not going to back off.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Skelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
6 Go to commentsSpot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
6 Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
6 Go to commentsGood riddance
1 Go to commentswel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
6 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
6 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
6 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
6 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
6 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
6 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
6 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
238 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to comments