Willie le Roux comments on post-match melee with England after World Cup semi-final
South Africa's Willie Le Roux celebrates as England's players react after the Rugby World Cup semifinal.
Springboks full-back Willie le Roux has addressed his actions that led to a post-match brawl after South Africa’s win over England in the Rugby World Cup semi-final.
Le Roux sparked a melee between the two sides when the final whistle went, with his actions clearly upsetting the England players.
Willie le Roux explains post-match brawl
Speaking after South Africa‘s 16-15 victory, England skipper Owen Farrell shrugged off the incident, saying, “It was nothing. Nothing. Just a misunderstanding.”
Footage of Le Roux sprinting up to the England players and celebrating emerged on social media this week, with the Bok full-back largely criticised for his actions.
Strand Hond. 😂 pic.twitter.com/CqMrZvQF1I
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) October 22, 2023
However, the veteran back has echoed Farrell’s sentiments that it was a misunderstanding and not purposely done to rile up the England players.
“It was just emotion. I think I had the same emotion as everyone back home. I was excited,” Le Roux told reporters.
“The margins in those big games are so small, I just jumped up out of emotion, of happiness as we’d just got through a World Cup semi-final.
“There was no disrespect to any of the English players. I think they thought there was, and I immediately told them there wasn’t, and then it stopped. There was nothing, nothing about that.”
Emotional high
The emotions of the knockout matches has been exceptionally high for Springbok supporters, and Le Roux explained that it has been the same for the players, with South Africa beating France and England by a single point.
“The emotion for the last two weeks was pretty high. My friends and everyone sends me messages after the games, and their heart rate is 200 (bpm),” he said.
“So, the emotion is very high all over the world, and for us as well, but when we step off the field, when you go to bed that night and when you wake up the next morning, it’s the next job, you start all over, it’s a new process. The high has gone now.”
READ MORE: Opinion: We are about to witness the greatest Rugby World Cup Final ever
