RWC2025 | Assistant coach Franzel September, Libbie van Rensburg and Lindelwa Gwala speak ahead of South Africa's quarter-final

Assistant coach Franzel September, Libbie van Rensburg (pictured) and Lindelwa Gwala speak ahead of South Africa's quarter-final against New Zealand at Sandy Park on Saturday.

Franzel September, assistant coach

On the match:
“It’s all about our approach, our plan, what we want to do tomorrow. Our physicality, our set-piece, we pride ourselves in that. It’s all about going out there, doing our thing. That’s important for us.

“During the week, we had a lot of reviews and previews and looked at ourselves and how we can get better. The energy is up there, so we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”

On emotions:
“This is something we’ve worked for over the last couple of years, ever since I joined this programme. As a coaching team, something we spoke about was getting past the pool stages.

“There will always be nerves, because it’s the quarter-final of a World Cup, but the way the ladies performed during the week, the way they conducted themselves, it's given us positive energy and given us the confidence that we can go there tomorrow, back the plan and do what we need to do.

“We’ve been telling them all week, ‘just go out there and express yourself’. As South Africans, that’s what we always do. We represent so many people out there in South Africa and we’d love to make them proud tomorrow.”

Libbie Janse van Rensburg

On playing vs Ruahei Demant:
“When you come to a World Cup, there’s a lot of names in women’s rugby. It’s so great to see all these athletes inspiring the next generation.

“For me personally, especially as a fly-half, I just try to focus on my job, focus on what I have to do for the team.”

On eve-of-match plans:
“Especially for me as a fly-half, I need to start thinking about going through the plans, all the calls I need to remember.

“Just staying calm is the most important thing. I won’t do anything too exciting, maybe watch a bit of a series just to calm the nerves and try to go to bed as early as possible.”

On physicality:
“The biggest talk on everyone’s minds is the physicality we bring to this tournament. We’ve shown it, we have such a strong forward pack and it’s exciting to play the reigning champions to really test ourselves.”

On inspiration:
“We’re sitting in this fortunate position to have had a dream, at a stage where women’s rugby in South Africa was really nothing. We’ve given girls the opportunity to yes, dream of that dream, dream of that scary dream but now it’s even bigger.

“It’s now easier for you to grasp that dream, and I think that sometimes a little bit of hope is all a girl needs.”

Lindelwa Gwala

On preparations:

“It’s been very busy, but with the magnitude of tomorrow's game, that’s how it should be. We've adapted as a team, as players and coaches and did what we have to do to be ready for the game tomorrow.”

On facing the haka:
“It’s exciting, it’s something that is really beautiful to see, the passion and the culture.”

On inspiration:
“Us being here says to the girls at home that it’s possible. It’s one thing to say it’s possible, but we’ve shown it’s actually possible.”