South Africa's Tendai Mtawairira believes Rugby World Cup success was great for the country and would unite its people.
Sporting success unites the nation, says SA's Mtawairira
SHOWS: YOKOHAMA, JAPAN (NOVEMBER 2, 2019) (AGENCY POOL - ACCESS ALL) 1.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA PROP, TENDAI MTAWAIRIRA, SAYING: "Certainly, you know, it's a massive thing for our country, and I think we really needed the hope and inspiration.
Things have been either great at home, but, you know, sports unite our country and a lot of people supported us along the journey so it has just been great." 2.
WHITE FLASH 3.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA PROP, STEVEN KITSHOFF, SAYING: "I think it's massive.
Sport has got a funny way of uniting the country and pulling people together for the greater and we're just very proud as a team and as a unit to pull it through and get everyone happy and try and change the mood of the country." 4.
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(SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA SCRUMHALF, FAF DE KLERK, SAYING: "I think for me, I just always to make an impact for the team, where I can help out and obviously stick to a plan, and I think I did that most of the times.
And then on defence, that's just to go all out.
We've got a big defensive pack and I think they're very physical so I can't shy away from that; I need to be up there with the rest of the boys.
So, it's just amazing to be part of it." 6.
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(SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA WINGER, MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI, SAYING: "I was so calm in the game and before the game, and I was so calm even at the try.
And I didn't know if I was going to score When I saw Lukhanyo Am, and I told him, you must go to the posts.
I think he saw someone coming inside so he passed the ball to me, so (INAUDIBLE) that's me." STORY: Tendai Mtawairira told reporters on Saturday that South Africa's Rugby World Cup success was great for the country and would unite its people.
Tries by wingers Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe and the goalkicking of Handre Pollard earned South Africa their third Rugby World Cup title on Saturday as the flyhalf kicked 22 points to secure a 32-12 victory over an error-strewn England.
Mtawairira's comments were echoed by fellow prop Steve Kitshoff who said the victory was massive and would bring South Africans together .
South Africa led 12-6 at halftime through four Pollard penalties with Owen Farrell replying for an England team who had been bossed in the scrum, having lost injured prop Kyle Sinckler after three minutes, and who committed a series of handling errors in a ragged 40-minute display.
South Africa, playing with far more ambition than in their semi-final win over Wales, kept up the pressure in the second half as England struggled to build any sort of momentum and Pollard nudged them 18-12 ahead after an hour.
The Springboks then scored their first try in three World Cup finals when Mapimpi broke clear in the 66th minute, chipped ahead and collected the ball back from Lukhanyo Am, and recalled winger Kolbe then blasted through to put the gloss on a deserved win.
England prop Mako Vunipola had to admit that South Africa were just too good on the day making it very difficult for Eddie Jones' team.
(Production: Tim Hart)