Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi has revealed the stirring conversation he had with teammate Lukhanyo Am before the World Cup final against England last year.
Rassie Erasmus’ South Africa stunned Eddie Jones’ England 32-12 in the decider, with Am providing a stunning assist for Mapimpi’s 66th-minute try en route to victory.
England had outclassed the All Blacks in their semi-final and were automatically touted as favourites to be win the final against a Springbok side that just barely beat Wales in their semi-final.
Mapimpi: Am saw a try-scoring opportunity
But in a review of the 2019 final with SuperSport, Mapimpi revealed that he had some kind of premonition that South Africa would be crowned champions and that he shared as much with Am, who is also his teammate at the Sharks.
‘I was speaking to Lukhanyo on one of the days before the final. I said I think it’s our time now to win the World Cup and to give people hope back home,’ Mapimpi explained.
‘I told him we’re not only playing for ourselves. There is a history and we are playing for the fans back at home, playing for our people to come together.’
Mapimpi, who was the second highest try-scorer at RWC 2019 with six touchdowns – one behind Wales wing Josh Adams who bagged seven – added that except for being nervous he wasn’t overly emotional before the all-important final.
‘I don’t want to lie … I was nervous, but also excited to be in the final. I wasn’t emotional,’ Mapimpi said.
‘The one thing I kept thinking about was that I want win the trophy. We have good coaches, who always motivate us before a game, telling us we can win and that is why I was just thinking about the game.’
Watch: Mapimpi on his World Cup journey
Photo: Getty Images
