SOUTH AFRICA: RUGBY UNION - The South African Rugby Union names 30-man squad for the World Cup

Record ID: 452895

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: RUGBY UNION - The South African Rugby Union names 30-man squad for the World Cup
  • Date: 23rd July 2007
  • Summary: SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY OFFICIALS AT PRESS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA RUGBY TEAM COACH JAKE WHITE SAYING: "This is the 30 man squad. I really believe this is the best we could have picked. I really believe that in the 4 years we working together with this group of players, everyone has been given an equal or fair opportunity to make the final 30 and I'm sure that you know, everybody you know even with Peter and Mac who are the assistant selectors with me are very very proud and very chuffed that these 30 men have been picked on merit and that is, I suppose what we are trying to strive to in South African rugby." PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY UNION (SARU) PRESIDENT OREGAN HOSKINS SAYING: "In the next 45 days we concentrate on one thing and only one thing and that is really and that is to bring back the William Webb Ellis trophy to South Africa." NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 7th August 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABKF9H2CTTK8CKF6HD15E19QAQ
  • Story Text: Springbok coach Jake White was a happy man after South Africa's Rugby World Cup squad announcement on Saturday, describing the 30-man group as 'the squad I want for the Rugby World Cup'.
    The team was unveiled to the media and the general public got a glimpse of the 30-man squad wearing their world cup team outfits.
    "This is the 30 man squad. I really believe this is the best we could have picked. I really believe that in the 4 years we working together with this group of players, everyone has been given an equal or fair opportunity to make the final 30 and I'm sure that you know, everybody you know even with Peter and Mac who are the assistant selectors with me are very very proud and very chuffed that these 30 men have been picked on merit and that is, I suppose what we are trying to strive to in South African rugby", said coach Jake White at a media conference.
    Meanwhile, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) President, Hoskins, gave the Bok RWC squad his blessing after announcing it to the public in Cape Town.
    "In the next 45 days we concentrate on one thing and only one thing and that is really and that is to bring back the William Webb Ellis trophy to South Africa", said Hoskins.
    The South African RWC squad open their World Cup campaign in Paris on September 9 against Samoa.
    Squad: Backs: Jean de Villiers, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Ricky Januarie, Percy Montgomery, Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Andre Pretorius, Francois Steyn, Ashwin Willemse.
    Forwards: Bakkies Botha, BJ Botha, Gary Botha, Schalk Burger, Os du Randt, Victor Matfield, Johann Muller, Danie Rossouw, Bob Skinstad, John Smit (captain), Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Gurthro Steenkamp, Albert van den Berg, CJ van der Linde, Wikus van Heerden.
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