CAPTAIN NOLUSINDISO BOOI

On RWC return after eight years

"I am very proud of them, even though it was not the result we were expecting because we are coming up with a young team and they gave it all and they pushed so hard for that scoreboard. That doesn’t mean so much when you know that you gave your heart and we gave our best."

On captaining South Africa on their Rugby World Cup return

"I’m thankful for the opportunity. For me, it was a great pleasure to lead these youngsters and see them play to the last whistle and see their faces that never gave up and kept on playing."

On South Africa's performance in defeat

"Everything that we were doing great, it was giving me goosebumps. It takes me back to the previous World Cup - how bad things were - and shows that we are coming up with a better team. That scoreboard doesn’t mean anything for now, but we are looking forward to the next game."

On young players in the South Africa squad

"Each and every one who is supporting us, even back at home, they give us that support and we are really appreciative to be here and make sure that we are making our statement. For sure things won’t be the same in the next game."

A message to young girls in South Africa

"For the girls at home and the young girls who are behind us we know that we are here to make you guys proud and that we’re know that we’re here to inspire you. We’ll work so hard to make you guys proud of us."

On the 50th-minute try scored by Nomawethu Mabenge

"It was a very beautiful and nice moment for everyone - and for our supporters at home, knowing we’d been working so hard."

On the challenges of playing France

"They read our game in the second half because we had managed to stop them in front of our try-line. They analysed that and changed their plan. And also looked for the mistakes and when we made a mistake they took it as a positive. If we can be more organised and try to eliminate the mistakes, the errors, we’ll be in a better position than now."

Looking ahead to the next match against Fiji

"It will be a different challenge, but we just want to take each game as it comes. So for next week we will prepare for Fiji and make sure we give everything that we have."

COACH STANLEY RAUBENHEIMER

On his side’s performance

"Very happy with my team. From an effort point of view, we were measuring our effort. We knew what team we were playing. That first 20 minutes, if we’d done a little bit better there, who knows? Maybe a different result."

On the game plan against France

"The key thing was to keep ball. I think our first phase did very well - our backs didn’t compliment that too well today. But overall I’m pleased with the effort of our team. This was our plan, really, to give it to France and show them that they had to play against us and I think our team did it well today."

Looking ahead to the match against Fiji

"Our plan has always been to look for something against Fiji. We understand a lot of their players play in NZ club rugby. If we can replicate this performance from today from an effort point of view and just notch up on one or two things, maybe we can get a result - but I can’t ask for more than what I got today."
[Submitted by Kevin Rademeyer]