Jacques Nienaber, Springbok coach
On the challenge of playing Scotland in South Africa's opening fixture of Rugby World Cup 2023:
“Listen, the Scotland game is the most important game for us in the World Cup. It is the biggest game for us because we are in a tough pool, and it is what it is and that's why it's so important.”
On South Africa losing their opening games in the last two Rugby World Cups:
“History doesn't have any influence on whatever the result will be of the World Cup. That's what we believe. We must focus on the reality and the reality is how we start our week on Tuesday and how much effort we put in.
“Winning your first test match in a World Cup doesn't necessarily mean that you will end up winning or losing the World Cup. It's just history.
On whether beating New Zealand in the final warm-up game makes South Africa one of the favourites to win Rugby World Cup 2023:
“For us, favourite or non-favourite - it doesn't influence Saturday's game. We can't control who's the favourite.
“The reality is that doesn't have any bearing on us, [nor will it] have bearing on Scotland or France for that matter. It's what you as a team believe within the group.
“How prepared are you? How much effort did you put in? How hard did you train? How did you make sure that you have ticked all the boxes in getting yourself prepared for the test match against Scotland? That is the reality. If you are the favourite or not the favourite or underdog or not the underdog, it's not going to make Scotland perform better or worse, or us better or worse.”
World Rugby Vice-Chairman John Jeffrey (Scotland)
On his thoughts about Rugby World Cup 2023:
"It has all the potential to be the best ever. If you look at three of the four pools, you don’t know who is going to qualify.
"It is the most open and there is jeopardy from the start.
"We’re in France now, the excitement is growing. I’ve been here a week and I’ve already got hairs at the back of my neck through the excitement.
"It is going to be an absolutely fantastic tournament, really open. There are a few favourites, but you couldn’t say who is going to win it. And it depends on which newspaper you open as to who are the favourites.
"In the past you’d say that there were probably two or three teams that could win it, but here you could see anyone from up to six teams could win."
On his belief this is the best Scotland team he has seen:
"Yes, it is. We are number five in the world, we have never been number five before.
"The statistics show it. I genuinely think this is the best, just look at our results against England and France in recent years.
"We just have to beat Ireland now. We’ve not beaten them for a few years."
Scott Cummings, Scotland lock
On if it makes a difference facing South Africa’s ‘bomb squad’ if he starts on the bench in Scotland’s opening match in Marseille on Sunday:
"Not at all. We are excited for that first game. South Africa are playing well. We know how they play, they play their style.
"We know what’s coming. There are things we are trying to get up on that.
"It’s a massive game, first game of the tournament against the last tournament’s champions."
On former player and World Rugby Vice-Chairman John Jeffrey saying this is the best Scotland team of all-time:
"That’s an amazing compliment to pay this team and we hope to pay that back.
"It’s tough to say that when you’re in the team. But we’re happy with the depth of the team, there’s real quality of players.
"One of the strengths is there isn’t much drop-off when certain players don’t play. There is always someone ready to step in and represent the jersey well."
Fabien Galthié, France coach
On the challenge of facing the All Blacks in the opening game:
"After the draw three years ago, I said it was wonderful for us. We’re starting a World Cup at home against the best team in the world, one that has won the title three times and has never been beaten in a pool match: 31 wins out of 31 since 1987 in nine World Cups. (one match against Italy at the 2019 World Cup wasn't played because of a typhoon)
"We French love the All Blacks. They’re a team that inspires us and that we’ve always come up against. Out of their last 10 meetings with France, nine victories. Our last match, you recall, was two years ago [France won 40-25 in Paris]. They are three-time world champions. In the history of our sport, they’re the finest team in the world, with the finest players. This is the team we will face at Stade de France on Friday."
On whether the Chalureau controversy has affected the group:
"The World Cup isn’t for wimps. You have to be strong."
Antoine Dupont, France captain
On the mounting expectation among the public:
"We have felt this over the last few months during the preparation games. They were all about the World Cup and this opening game against the All Blacks, so the players have got used to it. Our popular support has been growing and we can feel that - we take positivity and energy from it. We know we can count on our fans.”
On whether French players play too much rugby:
"It is a fact we play an awful lot more rugby than our opponents, but we don’t believe it is linked to the injuries we have had. We have had a period of preparation and recovery so I don’t think it is an issue with the players. We know for French teams the schedule is too loaded, but I don’t know how it can be improved."
