'I am very powerful but I do not yet control the weather' - Quotes of the Day

Our pick of the quotes from Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 October at Rugby World Cup 2023.

"I am very powerful but I do not yet control the weather. It is a bit above my pay grade."
Argentina head coach Michael Cheika on if he wants rain for their semi-final

"Mark has done his time."
New Zealand head coach Ian Foster on Mark Tele'a being recalled after not playing the quarter-final because of disciplinary reasons

"As youngsters playing in back yard we only dreamed of being here."
New Zealand full-back Beauden Barrett on playing a RWC semi-final alongside his brothers Scott and Jordie

“He still a young man and has a beard four or five times the size of mine."
Envious Maro Itoje on the facial hair sported by his fellow England second-rower, George Martin

"Once you beat them once perhaps you humanise them more. But the game starts 0-0."
Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi on what their victory over New Zealand might have achieved in the minds of the players

"Did he get it right? No. OK."
England head coach Steve Borthwick on South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus 'picking' England's team earlier in the week

'He will always take time to make someone happy'

"We couldn’t get too close to Dan as he had a nice cream jacket on which meant none of us could hug him."
New Zealand head coach Ian Foster reveals that Dan Carter's choice of clothing meant the All Blacks couldn't show their delight at seeing him at their training session

"Every country has its own little soul, how they see rugby, so you have to adapt to that."
Jacques Nienaber, the South Africa head coach, on the experience to be gained from playing northern hemisphere teams

"When people start, you know right away if they’re going to like the sport or not because they get hit and either they kind of shrink away or their eyes lit up and you are like 'Oh, that’s a rugby player.'"
Charles Aoki, USA co-captain, on the moment it becomes clear if someone will take to wheelchair rugby

"The kids at schools are sending us clips of them singing because they know some of us like singing. People at work on Fridays are wearing their green jerseys. The beautiful thing to see is people wear anything that represents the Springboks."
Boks captain Siya Kolisi feels the support of the South African public

"His body might be sore but he will always take time to make someone happy."
Springboks centre Damian de Allende on his inspirational skipper Kolisi