Joel Stransky Reflects on South Africa’s Quarter-final Win and Looks ahead to the Semi-final against England

Joel Stransky, a former fly-half and member of South Africa’s iconic team that won the 1995 Rugby World Cup, shares his thoughts on South Africa’s quarter-final win over France and looks forward to the upcoming semi-final against England. Stransky emphasizes that while history may play a role, it will have little significance when the defending champions face England in the last four of this year’s tournament.

Reflecting on the quarter-final match against France, Stransky describes it as a clash between two quality sides with big, powerful ball carriers and a good kicking game. He notes that the game was intense and brutal, with a few decisions going South Africa’s way. Stransky praises the tactical changes made by South Africa’s coach, Rassie Erasmus, or Jacques Nienaber, highlighting the substitution of Siya Kolisi and Duane Vermeulen, and the entry of Deon Fourie and Kwagga Smith. These changes helped South Africa slow down the game, win turnovers, and penalties, ultimately contributing to their victory.

Stransky also praises Cheslin Kolbe’s charge-down of Thomas Ramos’ attempted conversion, highlighting it as a rare and gutsy move. He considers the South Africa vs. France quarter-final match, alongside New Zealand beating Ireland, as one of the greatest back-to-back quarter-finals in Rugby World Cup history. Stransky commends the discipline and quality showcased by the four teams in Paris and believes it was a great advertisement for the sport.

Shifting focus to the upcoming semi-final against England, Stransky acknowledges that while England had a mixed performance in the pool stage, their confidence will have grown from their World Cup campaign. He points out the strong performances of players like Ben Earl, Courtney Lawes, Manu Tuilagi, and Alex Mitchell. Stransky suggests that England is unlikely to reverse the decision to start Owen Farrell at fly-half, as his defensive abilities are crucial against a physical team like South Africa. He also mentions the importance of wingers and a full-back who can contest aerial battles, speculating that Freddy Steward may replace Marcus Smith in the lineup.

Commenting on South Africa’s half-backs, Stransky praises Cobus Reinach’s accuracy in kicking and his urgency in attack. However, he expresses doubts about Faf de Klerk’s suitability for the physical demands of the game. Stransky believes that Manie Libbok controlled the game well at fly-half until his substitution and suggests that Handre Pollard’s style of play may not be ideal against England, who pose less of a physical threat.

Stransky acknowledges the historical rivalry between South Africa and England, but stresses that both teams will focus on recent games and player analysis to come up with a winning strategy. He predicts that if England can get ahead, they will be tough to chase down, although he still backs South Africa to come out on top. Stransky believes that while England can raise their game, they may not instill fear in South Africa or New Zealand, who he expects to beat Argentina.

In conclusion, Stransky looks forward to an exciting semi-final match between South Africa and England, expressing confidence in the defending champions and their ability to secure a place in the finals.