Springboks coach proud of side and praises Japan

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SHOWS: TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 20, 2019) (IMG/RUGBY WORLD CUP LIMITED - SEE RESTRICTIONS BEFORE USE)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA COACH, RASSIE ERASMUS, ON BEATING JAPAN, SAYING:

"Yeah, sure, we are very happy making the semi-finals. We were very nervous at half-time. I think the first-half, overall we were nervous going into this match playing against Japan with their home support and the way they played against Ireland and Scotland. And they were definitely building momentum and we were sure of the home support they had, it was going to be a tough match. And then going in half-time, only being up a few points, and leaving a few tries out there, there was definitely a little bit of a lull and a quietness in our changing room. But I think being together for seventeen weeks, the guys knew which buttons to push to get ourselves out of that lull and come and produce it in the second half. So, yeah, we're a bit proud of that and now we're into the semi-finals and hopefully we can pull it through."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA COACH, RASSIE ERASMUS, ON JAPAN, SAYING:

"You can be proud of the way you're hosting this World Cup. You can be proud of the way your team performed to make the top eight and to top your pool against tier one nations, being Scotland and Ireland, and then perform the way they did against us today. We were nervous at half-time, when we had our discussion at half-time it was a nervous one. We were nervous about the game. So, overall, I think Japanese rugby is in a really good space."

STORY: South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus praised Japan and said they made his side nervous during a tight first-half in Tokyo on Sunday (October 20).

The Springboks took an early lead in the World Cup quarter-final through a try from winger Makazole Mapimpi, but tournament hosts Japan dragged the score back to 5-3 before half-time.

Erasmus said his players felt the nerves in a quiet dressing room during the interval but praised his players for showing a togetherness, patience and discipline built over months of working together to dominate the second-half and win the match 26-3.

South Africa next face Wales in the semi-finals after they edged out France earlier on Sunday.