SOUTH AFRICA: SPRINGBOK RUGBY TEAM TRAIN FOR TRI-NATIONS MATCH AGAINST THE ALL BLACKS

Record ID: 343176

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: SPRINGBOK RUGBY TEAM TRAIN FOR TRI-NATIONS MATCH AGAINST THE ALL BLACKS
  • Date: 2nd August 1999
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (AUGUST 2, 1999) 1. VARIOUS OF SPRINGBOKS DURING TRAINING SESSION 2. COACH NICK MALLETT WALKING 3. SPRINGBOKS WORKING OUT MOVES 4. SPRINGBOKS DOING DRILLS 5. CROWD WATCHING 6. KIDS WATCHING 7. SPRINGBOKS STRETCHING 8. PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI AND ENTOURAGE ARRIVE 9. MBEK
  • Embargoed: 17th August 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Reuters ID: LVA1WMO2H0R5WMZ5VT77ESJRP2OA
  • Story Text: The South African rugby squad has been training before
    their tri-nations match against the All Blacks at the weekend.

    They been given the support of South African President Thabo
    Mbeki who pulled on a Springbok rugby jersey in a show of
    support for his country's struggling side.

    Mbeki wore the number nine jersey of new Springbok
    rugby captain Joost van der Westhuizen at a training camp in
    Johannesburg on Monday (August 2) and told the players he was
    fully behind them for Saturday's clash against the New Zealand
    side in Pretoria.

    Mbeki's visit brought back memories of President Nelson
    Mandela's involvement in the national team, including the
    famous gesture of presenting the trophy at the 1995 World Cup
    while wearing the number six jersey of Springbok winning
    captain Francois Pienaar.

    Mbeki also assured the team that the government was fully
    behind the Springboks, who have been criticised in the past
    for the lack of black players in the team.

    Coach Nick Mallett thanked him for his support.

    Van der Westhuizen, who had introduced all the players to
    Mbeki, presented one of the new World Cup jerseys to the
    President, who immediately removed his jacket and pulled on
    the jersey.

    Van der Westhuizen then handed Mbeki a ball signed by all
    the members of the team and jokingly quipped: "I just want to
    give a message to the President.Don't drop the ball!"
    South Africa are bottom of the table in the 1999
    Tri-Nations Series having lost their opening two matches
    against New Zealand in Dunedin and Australia in Brisbane.

    The Springboks' injury problems deepened on Monday with
    the news that fly-half Jannie de Beer was ruled out of
    Saturday's match against New Zealand barely 18 hours after
    being called into the squad.

    De Beer, who last played for his country in December 1997,
    had been called in as a replacement for Henry Honiball who is
    suffering from a career-threatening knee injury.

    Lock Krynauw Otto was also ruled out with a hamstring
    injury that will keep him on the sidelines for two to three
    weeks.Mark Andrews has been put on standby.

    The South Africans had already added fly-half Franco Smith
    to their squad as cover for centre Brendan Venter who has
    sustained a shoulder injury.Smith, 27, played the last of his
    eight tests against Wales in November.


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