Guildford, England - 28th October 2015
1. 00:00 Wide shot of press conference
2. 00:05 SOUNDBITE: (English) Heyneke Meyer (on being tempted to make a lot of changes to his team)
"The temptation was there to have some fresh guys, but by saying that, I think people maybe understood me wrong. I have always said that playing for third or fourth, if you accept that, you'll never be a winner and I have said that it's never good enough for South Africa to compete for third and fourth and be happy about it. When you're South African, when you're a Springbok, only to be the best in the world is good enough. But by saying that, whenever you put the Springbok jersey on, for me I probably can't say in words what it means to be the Springbok coach in every single game and for the players as well. So whenever you put the Springbok jersey on, even if it's a friendly, you are still representing your country, you are still representing the hopes and dreams of a lot of people and that's a big responsibility."
3. 00:55 SOUNDBITE: (English) Heyneke Meyer (on the difficulty of getting up for the game after the semi-final loss)
"I had to get the guys up after last week, I've only had one training session, and to make a lot of changes wouldn't be the right thing. I have to think about the team first and obviously we want to go out there and win. They're a quality side. They've shown that since the beginning of the year and I've said it a couple of times, I don't think South Africa or the world respect them enough. They have really improved as a nation and are in the top four now. What they have done against the All Blacks, against us, they have beaten the Wallabies I think last year, so they are a really really tough side and if we're not at our best, it will be a difficult day. So we thought it was easier (not to make changes) This team has been playing together for quite some time. We've been struggling to get some sort of continuity so it's only that there are one or two injuries that I didn't (field the same side as against New Zealand) and we have to go out there and show that we're mentally tough enough to come back and play a great game for our supporters.
4. 01:56 SOUNDBITE: (English) Heyneke Meyer (on having been assistant coach for 1999 third place play off)
"It's probably the toughest week to go in (to a game) with all your hopes and dreams shattered and only a win is good enough for us and then you have to regroup and go out there and put in a quality performance. It was very difficult back then (in 1999) I've learnt from that situation. I thought that Nick (Mallett, South African head coach in 1999) handled it well. All the players were in despair back then as well and it's the same now. So it's all going to be about mental toughness. You have to prove that you have learnt from that but again, being the head coach (I feel it) one hundred times more because you have the responsibility. I believe that we have really turned things around. The start was really difficult this year and it will be great if we can end up with a top performance, but saying that, they (Argentina) are a top quality side and it's strange to have been in two positions like this but I must say, it's been 100 times more tougher for me because, although I thought we could have won there as well, it was so close, it was probably closer this game especially given where we came from and I really believed in this team right until the end. A lot of the youngsters put up their hands, I had been worried about them, so you know it's more or less the same situation but you take it much more personally as a head coach."
5. 03:15 SOUNDBITE: (English) Duane Vermeulen, number eight
"There were some parts we knew we had to work on, especially exiting out of our half, so I think that was the one part that we really worked hard on but there was a good vibe at training and everything went well. You ( as a player) need to put what happened on the weekend behind you as soon as possible. Like the coach said, there is still one game to play and we want to end on a high and that's our goal and we want to go out and win this game."
South African coach Heyneke Meyer makes two changes to his side for the third place play-off match against Argentina on Friday (30th October).
SCRIPTING INFORMATION:
South Africa have made two changes to the side that lost the World Cup Semi-final to New Zealand, as they bid to finish the tournament on a high in the bronze medal match against Argentina.
Injured captain injured Fourie du Preez is replaced at scrum-half by Ruan Pienaar, and veteran lock Victor Matfield comes into the second row in place of Lood de Jager.
38 year old Matfield will also captain the side in what will be his last international appearance.
Winger Bryan Habana, level with Jonah Lomu on 15 tries, is bidding to become the sole owner of the all-time World Cup record.
The Springboks - who suffered the biggest shock in World Cup history when they were beaten by Japan in their opening match of the tournament - lost 20-18 ot the All Blacks in the semi-final.
Coach Heyneke Meyer dismissed suggestions that it would be hard to motivate the team for the match so soon after losing the semi-final, insisting that Springboks always want to win.
"Whenever you put the Springbok jersey on, for me I probably can't say in words what it means to be the Springbok coach in every single game and for the players as well. So whenever you put the Springbok jersey on, even if it's a friendly, you are still representing your country, you are still representing the hopes and dreams of a lot of people and that's a big responsibility."
Two time World Cup winners, South Africa finished third in 1999 after edging out New Zealand 22-18 in the play off match.
Meyer was the assistant coach to Nick Mallett at that time, but admitted the hurt of failing to reach the final was far greater this time as head coach.
Argentina lost 29-15 in their World Cup semi-final and are also seeking a second third place finish.
They beat France 34-10 in the play off match in 2007.
