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The coin toss moment when Siya Kolisi learned the Springboks already had the World Cup title in the bag

The 2019 World Cup final coin toss. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Despite the fact that England were coming off a masterful performance against New Zealand and South Africa had seemingly spluttered their way into the World Cup final, Springboks captain Siya Kolisi has revealed his team were supremely confident about how their match was going to unfold at 2019’s biggest rugby event.

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While England were favourites heading into the game, South Africa slowly gained ascendency throughout the first half and came to life in the final quarter of the match when they scored two excellent tries.

While coaches have often overthought the week heading into a massive match, Kolisi has revealed that Rassie Erasmus kept the changes to a  minimum.

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Scotland legend Jim Hamilton picks his team for the 2021 Lions Tour of South Africa.

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    Scotland legend Jim Hamilton picks his team for the 2021 Lions Tour of South Africa.

    Speaking to hosts Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger on the Use It or Lose It Show, Kolisi said that very little changed following South Africa’s narrow 19-16 win over the Welsh.

    “In the final week, for some reason, everything was just very chilled,” Kolisi said. “Nothing changed, we didn’t do anything special, everything was just the same.

    “The nicest thing, to be honest, was having the families there. I would have a hard day at training or reviewing then get to my room. You get there and your kids don’t care how tough your day was and you go for a walk and all that kind of thing, [it was] quite chilled.”

    Of course, the Springboks prepared hard for the match, focussing primarily on analysis of the English side and tactics, as opposed to on-field fitness and gym work.

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    “The amount of detail that we had to do on laptops, because [the coaches] wanted us off our feet, so we just watched [England match footage],” Kolisi said. “There were the key players, who kicks, what side do they kick from and all that kind of stuff. So you can watch and kind of see this picture over and over and it plays in your mind the whole week.

    “On match day, we came into the stadium early and instead of speaking to us – remember at the time in South Africa there was gender-based violence and all those negative things happening – he reminded us that this is not pressure. Pressure in South Africa is people not having jobs and there’s violence and everything that’s happening … [He said] ‘Just play for the people here and back at home’. I think, after that, there was not much else said.

    Kolisi also revealed that even before the match kicked off, he knew his team were in a better frame of mind than their opposition, simply based on Owen Farrell’s demeanour at the coin toss.

    “You know when you have that feeling, ‘there’s no way they’re going to beat us today’?” Kolisi said. “Even with the coin toss, when I saw Owen Farrell, he didn’t know which side he was at, which side was warming up, what team is he, A or B. Already I could see [he was flustered]. And they came late to the stadium.

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    “We were so confident from the first scrum, the guys were really hungry. I know people say Kyle got injured earlier but the way we’d been scrumming everybody else, I don’t think it would have made a difference.”

    England’s late arrival to the stadium has been widely criticised while the likes of former coach Clive Woodward has lambasted the side for their approach to the week of the final.

    At the end of the match, South Africa triumphed 32-12 in the third World Cup title win since their first involvement in the competition back in 1995.

    That final also marked Kolisi’s 50th match for the Springboks but the talismanic leader wasn’t able to run out on his own, as is common when a player hits a significant milestone – not that he was too fussed about it.

    “They wanted me to run out first… but they said the moment was too big for me not to walk out with Owen Farrell – but I wouldn’t have done it differently.”

    Burger then reminded Kolisi of his 50th cap for the Stormers, when Kolisi ran out to rapturous applause in Wellington against the Hurricanes.

    “I was like, ‘Siya, you deserve it, go out for your 50th,'” Burger said. “And he was jogging out – and you sort of jog out together in the corner. The next moment, the crowd’s going ballistic and I don’t know what Siya’s thinking. He’s jogging and turns around and I’m jogging out and next to me is Ma’a Nonu, playing his 150th game.”

    “I was like, ‘Oh – this wasn’t for me?’” Kolisi joked.

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    Upnorth-taniwha 30 minutes ago
    New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

    So with all that's been said, France sending a b team, top 14 so strong, we support ab’s, they support top 14 and WC and six nations. It is what it is, but do you think that the results of this tour have matched the outcry? Like the first test against a so called b side? Yes we won, just. The second test was better, but against a lesser team apparently. And the third test we will experiment, to a degree. But we are still not thrashing them. One would expect if the teams they are sending are so bad, then why aren't we holding them scoreless and why aren't we putting 50-60 points on them every week? We put all our emphasis on international rugby, yet the show isn't what one would think it would be considering all the facts. I don't know, but I was really expecting the ABS to come out in the first test and show France how pissed off they were that they had sent a mediocre test team. Send them home thrashed and with their Tails between there legs, but I don't know. I think they would go home confident that even if they put the b side in, they can compete against a power house AB team. Not good for us, more so for them. As we all know, the mental side of international rugby is huge. Players confidence can set there path for their careers. So I think it was a perfect chance to absolutely dent the confidence of these up and comers, so when they faced us again in the future, they wouldnt be so keen! And if the ABs had really smashed this team and any other team that done the same, then it would be a message to all international sides. That if you do so, you do so at your own risk and at the expense of the growth of your players going forwards. I get what everyone is saying in regards to all the other stuff. Yes we have a lot to work on. But firstly we need to win, and win big. Otherwise these complaints of b sides, look rather silly. Yes we are 2 nil up. The second test against a much weeker side was better-ish. But C'mon, if they want to send b sides, we should treat them like that, and really be smashing them. Confidence in any player, can be changed for the entirety of their careers. Maybe if we did this, they would realise the effects and send stronger teams. But I don't think that so far this series, any player would feel like they wouldn't want another go at the ABs and can face up to them. Just a thought

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