South Africa Quarter-Final Review

But de Villiers played down the importance of the historic achievement after the match. For the Proteas, something far bigger beckons.

“We didn't come all this way to say that we made it to a semi-final of a World Cup,” de Villiers said.

“We want to go all the way as a team, and we believe we have the right group here to achieve that.”

When they stride out on to Eden Park in six days’ time to play with New Zealand or West Indies, except to see 11 “obsessed” men again.