The 2007 Rugby World Cup winner, Ruan Pienaar, believes the Springboks will have to dig deep if they are to win Saturday’s final against the All Blacks in Paris.

The stage is set for a massive showdown in the World Cup final as the world's two most successful teams will face each other in the championship match for the first time in 28 years.

Interestingly, when the Cheetahs have won the Currie Cup in a Rugby World Cup year the Springboks have gone on to lift the Webb Ellis cup. The Cheetahs won the Currie Cup in 2007 and 2019, and the Boks won the World Cup’s in those years as well, so it will be interesting to see if the omen continues.

The Cheetahs stalwart, Pienaar, who played in 88 Tests for the Springboks told OFM Sport that the defending champions will have to put in one more big effort.

“It's a massive task lying ahead of the Springboks, the last two weeks would have taken a lot out of them by beating the host nation, France,” said Pienaar.

“That would have been emotionally and physically draining leading up to that game. I think England played really well and took it to the Springboks this weekend.

“Winning a World Cup is not easy, it's seven-eight weeks of hard graft and it takes a massive amount of effort to get to a final, and then it's one more 80-minute performance. We have the squad and we have the experience in the team with guys that have done it before. I'm excited to see what is going to happen.

“Both teams will be extremely positive going into this one. South Africa will be keen to make it back-to-back titles and New Zealand will try to get over 2019 when they failed to win it and had to settle for third. I'm looking forward to it and it should be a great final.”

Saturday’s final at Stade de France in Paris kicks off at 21:00.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport