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28th October 2023
11:13pm BST
"There is so much that is wrong in our country," he added. "We are the last line of defence... there is so much division in our country but this team shows what people of different colours and backgrounds can do when they work together. "Look what 1995 [and South Africa's very first World Cup win] did for sport in our country. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that, and the people that came before me. The people that made it possible for people of my colour to play."Faf de Klerk, who had a fine game in the 9 jersey, echoed the comments of his captain. He said, "Hopefully this shows what unity and team-work can do... if we can come together like this, it can be a better country, and be a better world." https://twitter.com/VMSportIE/status/1718377522004643913
"I want to give credit to the All Blacks. They took us to the end, they took us to a dark place. It shows what kind of team they are, to fight with a man down from early in the game. They put us under so much pressure. Credit to my boys too for the fight. I am just grateful we could pull it off."On how his team managed to win, Kolisi simply stated, "We had to. "We lost our hooker [Bongi Mbonambi] in the early part of the game and we had to adjust to that. They put a lot of pressure on our lineouts but somehow we found a way.
"People who are not from South Africa don't understand what it means for our country. It is not just about the game. Our country goes through such a lot. We are just grateful that we can be here. I want to tell the people of South Africa 'thank you so much'. This team just shows what you can do. As soon as we work together, all is possible, no matter in what sphere - in the field, in offices, it shows what we can do. I am grateful for this team, I am so proud of it."South Africa have now contested eight World Cup tournaments since returning to the international fold, after the end of the Apartheid regime. They have won four of them.
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