"We were always humble in victory, now we must be humble in defeat."

- South African captain Joost van der Westhuizen's muted response to Saturday's World Cup semi-final defeat by Australia.

"We are at the foot of the mountain. Now we have to climb it." - French coach Jean Claude Skrela prior to yesterday's semi-final clash with New Zealand at Twickenham.

"The French team are predictably unpredictable." - New Zealand out-half Andrew Mehrtens tries to sum up the mercurial French.

"We just have to grit our teeth and go and play South Africa on Thursday." - New Zealand coach John Hart refuses to be consoled after their defeat to France.