Mzwandile Stick backs Springbok selection consistency in France showdown

The reigning world champions, who are on their annual Northern Hemisphere end-of-year tour, take on the French in what the hosts have billed a rematch of the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal at the same venue two years ago.

That narrow 28-29 defeat still haunts Les Bleus, and Stick feels, with just one change to their backline seeing Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in for Mannie Libbok, they are poised to put up a similar performance tonight.

"It's gonna be a tough one, but I think we've got the right squad to be able to handle this game, if you look at our backline also – the only difference from 2023 is Sacha starting at 10, which is where Manie started in the quarterfinal," said Stick.

"The rest of the players are the ones who played against France [two years ago], so it's going to be a tough one but, again, I think we'll keep doing our best to make sure we keep our people back home proud.

"We know probably 90 percent of South Africans will be focussing on this game, and we will do it for our people in South Africa, who make sure that we perform – and I know it's going to be late for them, but again, we're just going to make sure to do our best to keep them proud."

READ: Boks face high-stakes showdown with France to defend No 1 spot

The Boks will need to be at their brilliant best once again to walk out victorious against a formidable French side in Paris tonight, just as they were in 2023, added Stick.

"We understand very well that, for us to win against them, we'll probably have to be at our best. I always say to people, when I go back to 2023, the quarterfinal against them, if we weren't at our best on that day, they could have given us [defeat by] 40 points," he said.

"But because of the way we also pitched up in that game, we knew it was going to be tough, especially playing in front of their home crowd – I think we expect the same [tonight] also."

Kick-off in the French capital is set for 22:10 (SA time).

ALSO READ: Kolisi pays tribute to township foundation upon Springbok milestone