The Springboks will want to draw on the energy of the crowd when they face France in Paris on Sunday in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup.

The match at the iconic Stade de France is sold out and more than 80 000 fans will be in attendance.

It is a guarantee that the crowd will be hostile, but the World Cup has also shown that the spectators do embrace good rugby.

The Springbok 8th-man Jasper Wiese said it will be loud and difficult, but they need to channel the atmosphere.

“We could barely speak to each other. I didn’t play in that game, but I was sat in the stands and you could barely speak to each other.

“You feed off that energy that the people are giving. Obviously, they’ll be shouting for France but we won’t know it, because, well, some of the guys understand French but I don’t.”

The former Cheetahs backrower, added that facing the hosts at a World Cup in their own backyard does come with added pressure, but it’s something that they as a team thrive one.

“We talk about pressure but it’s a privilege to have the pressure that we’re under,” said Wiese.

“You feel pressure your whole life in South Africa as well. It’s difficult back there, but it’s a privilege to represent 60 million people and to represent 33 guys and the management here to make them proud and just to enjoy it and leave everything out on the field.

“There’s definitely a bit of pressure but we enjoy it.”

Sunday’s quarter-final between France and the Springboks in Paris kicks off at 21:00.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport