Rugby World Cup 2015: Staunch SA fans ready for ribbing

Springboks fans Sandra and Brian Paulus moved to New Zealand from Durban 17 years ago. Photo / Dean Purcell

Springboks supporter Sandra Paulus is going to work today in her green and gold jersey - despite knowing she'll be teased about it all week long.

After a rough start to the Rugby World Cup, she reckons South Africa is set to be a formidable opponent for the All Blacks when the teams clash in their semifinal at Twickenham on Sunday.

"I feel like they can rise to the occasion. I'm just gonna sit back and hope for a really good nail-biting game," she said.

Ms Paulus and her husband Brian said they might get together with some of their South African friends on Saturday night . But she said they'd have to watch that they didn't party too hard in the lead up to the 4am game, or they might not get to see it.

"I love the All Blacks as long as they're not playing South Africa," Ms Paulus, a careers adviser at Papakura High School, said. "When I go to school in my jersey [today], I'll have students picking on me and the boys challenging me all the time."

Mr Paulus said he thought the All Blacks were looking good after yesterday's game against France, but he still hoped he'd see his team win.

When the sports-mad pair moved to New Zealand from Durban 17 years ago, Mr Paulus admitted he had to brush up on his rugby knowledge.

"Because it was all anyone ever spoke about in the smoko room at work," he said.

And they said one of the best things about living in their adopted country was that they had two strong teams to support during the tournament.

"If the All Blacks win, we'll jump in behind them," he said.

The Springboks were humiliated at the beginning of this year's Rugby World Cup tournament, when they lost 32-34 to Japan.

But they quickly bounced back to win the next four games, against Samoa, Scotland, USA and Wales.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said playing the side on Sunday wouldn't be a walk in the park for the Kiwi team.

"(The Springboks) have been the team that New Zealand have had the greatest challenges for many, many years and playing them in a World Cup is going to be special," he said.

But according to Herald rugby writer Gregor Paul, yesterday's All Blacks' performance should give the Boks a considerable amount to worry about.

"Against France, the All Black skill level was astonishing."