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/ 15 February 2008

Super 14: The ins and outs

South African rugby will enjoy an auspicious season this year. We begin the year as the envy of the rugby-playing nations, champions of both the world and the Super 14. Even the internecine wrangling for power in the South African Rugby Union (Saru) has failed to dim that envy.

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/ 26 October 2007

White needs a little time out

For the first time in its 20-year history, the third place play-off game was better than the Rugby World Cup final. A joyous Argentinian side swept aside host nation France at the Parc des Princes 24 hours before South Africa finally quenched the English flame and put the light out on that team’s four-year reign as champions.

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/ 21 October 2007

Rainbow nation explodes in joy

South Africa exploded on Saturday night, the final whistle in the World Cup bringing the rainbow nation on to the streets in the time it takes to lift the Webb Ellis trophy. ”The country needs this,” shouted fan Evan Rice. ”Last time, in 1995, we were on the crest of the wave. Now, though, this is better.”

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/ 19 October 2007

Smit looks to his day of destiny

South Africa captain John Smit will seek to emulate Francois Pienaar on Saturday in lifting the Rugby World Cup in the final and admits he is driven by a sense of destiny, though he accepts it will not fall into his lap. The 29-year-old hooker was present in Johannesburg when South Africa stunned the All Blacks and Pienaar received the World Cup from Nelson Mandela.

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/ 19 October 2007

Boks back for seconds

There have been many times during the past 12 years when the idea of South Africa ever winning the World Cup again seemed utterly ludicrous. Remember when André Markgraaff dropped Francois Pienaar and replaced him in the Springbok squad with Theo Oost­huizen? That was ludicrous.

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/ 19 October 2007

‘It’s time for new heroes’

‘I’ve believed for a long time now that South Africa are going to win the World Cup,” Jake White says with quiet but utter certainty in his hotel room in Paris. Days away from the final, against an England team that White’s Springboks beat 36-0 last month, it might be presumed that arrogance or complacency underpins the South African coach’s unusually bold honesty.

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/ 18 October 2007

Madiba backs Boks to win

Nelson Mandela urged the Springboks on Thursday to emulate their 1995 World Cup victory when his appearance in a gold and green jersey became one of the iconic images of the post-apartheid era. The ageing former South African president said in a pre-recorded video message to the team he was convinced that they would return home triumphant.

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/ 15 October 2007

Madiba invited to World Cup final

Former South African president Nelson Mandela has been invited to attend next weekend’s World Cup final between the Springboks and England. South Africa coach Jake White said the current president Thabo Mbeki had already confirmed he would attend the match and there was a chance Mandela might also come to Paris if he was healthy enough to make the trip.

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/ 29 August 2007

Stransky puts his money on Boks

Former South African World Cup-winning flyhalf Joel Stransky is backing the three southern-hemisphere powers as well as hosts France to have the biggest impact at this year’s Rugby World Cup, which kicks off on September 7. ”If I were a betting man, I’d put my money on South Africa,” he said.