South Africa have condemned online death threats sent to scrum-half Cobus Reinach.
Former Northampton half-back Reinach was targeted after South Africa’s 29-28 World Cup quarter-final win over France.
The Montpellier playmaker will start against England in Saturday night’s semi-final in Paris, amid staunch backing from the Springboks’ management.
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick confirmed French authorities are looking into the threats against Reinach.
“We are all well aware of the situation for Cobus and his family,” said Stick.
“The players do their job to make sure they represent their country and all the players we have on the field are here to represent South Africa.
“If someone has got a problem with that, I think the French authorities will have to deal with it.
“We will make sure we prepare each other as a team, players, management and everyone involved, and once again we don’t have a place for that in our game.
“You win some, you lose some, that is part of the game, and I am really disappointed in whoever sent that message to a player.
“The situation has been well handled by the French authorities.
“We are doing everything in our powers to make our people proud.
“I have seen Cobus every day and he is in a good space.
“He has got his family around him and I think at the moment we must also give credit to French rugby.
“The security around the hotels is another level so I don’t think that is something to worry about. We know for sure we are well protected in our camps.”
Boks rugby director Rassie Erasmus predicted England’s starting line-up in a press conference on Tuesday, and only made two mistakes.
Stick hailed Leicester lock George Martin’s physicality, with the 22-year-old stepping up for only his fifth Test start.
“It is not a big surprise, it is what we expected – there are two changes from the team Rassie announced in the week!” joked Stick.
“George Martin has done really well and for him to get a starting spot against the Springboks shows their coaching staff really believe in his physique, and he is a really good player.
“England in general are in a good space, they are getting the results they are looking for when it comes to a shift in their mindset, and they are really physical.
“The way they played against Fiji in the quarter-finals, we were really impressed with their physicality.”
