Springboks still confident of lifting World Cup

• South Africa flanker Francois Louw delivers rallying call following the shock defeat by Japan

South Africa flanker Francois Louw 

BIRMINGHAM: The inquests are over, the recriminations have ended and now South Africa are back on the front foot.

In the 48 hours since their surprise defeat by Japan, the Springboks have dissected and analysed what caused one of the biggest upsets in rugby history.

They have emerged through the ordeal as a united and resolute group and flanker Francois Louw even refuses to rule out the possibility of them reaching the final and lifting the Rugby World Cup.

Louw summed up the positive and defiant attitude in the camp with a strong rallying call on Monday at the team’s Birmingham headquarters, where they are preparing for their next game against Samoa at Villa Park on Saturday.

“Our backs are against the wall right now,” he said. “We have three tough games ahead of us. We are not going to underestimate any team in the World Cup. I don’t think we ever did.

“Losing a game doesn’t mean you are down and out. There are six games left all the way to the final. We’ll take each game as it comes and this week our focus is on Samoa.”

Asked whether South Africa can still lift the trophy, Louw replied without hesitation: “I think we are in a position where we have to feel confident about that (winning the World Cup).

“We need to pull together. We know what needs to be done. I believe we have the ability to pull back together, to pull tight, to look forward and deflect any negativity.

“We’ve hit a bit of a stumbling block. It’s time to regroup and pull together in a positive way. Our focus is to climb the pool and finish top.

“It’s still in our hands, still in our grasp to go through the pool games and qualify for the play-offs. You want to finish top of your pool to get a better draw in the play-offs.”

Louw’s fighting talk needs to be echoed by a performance at Villa Park on Saturday, but he insists the Springboks can heal their wounded pride and restore their reputation as a leading rugby nation.

He said: “We know we can produce. We know the brand of rugby we can play. We can beat any side in the world. “We need to win every single game now. It has not been a great moment for South Africa and South African rugby history. It is what it is and we have to face up to reality and turn it around.”