Stick hopes Boks take lessons of Marseille into hostile quarter-final against France

Toulon - Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said last year’s Test against France in Marseille will come in handy for them as they brace themselves for what is easily their toughest French examination yet.

The Springboks face France in the fourth Rugby World Cup quarter-final at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis in a game that will pit the holders against the hosts.

France topped Pool A by virtue of wins against New Zealand, Uruguay, Namibia and Italy, while South Africa finished second in Pool B where wins over Scotland, Romania, and Tonga were doused by a 13-8 loss to Ireland in what was an epic encounter.

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The French and the Boks met in Marseille in November last year, with the former winning a very controversial and acrimonious Test 30-26 in which the latter were reduced to 14 players when Pieter-Steph du Toit was sent off for a head clash with Jonathan Danty.

The Boks would finish that game with 13 players when Deon Fourie was also yellow-carded late in the game, although he still put in an almighty forward and defensive effort.

Stick said while the result did matter in the end, the experience gained from that game was priceless for what they’re going to experience in Paris on Sunday.

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“I think it’s a good thing because, if you look at the game we played against them last year, it was close,” Stick said.

“It was a good Test, and the crowd was very hostile, far from friendly to the opposition. However, if you’re going to win the World Cup, you have to go through the strong teams.

“You have to play them, but if you look at the times we’ve played