The Springboks got a warm send off to the Rugby World Cup in Wales when their most famous fan, former president Nelson Mandela, made a surprise visit to their farewell dinner on Wednesday night. Mandela, who so famously appeared in a then captain Francois Pienaar’s number six jersey on the Ellis Park pitch shortly before the Boks played the winning final in 1995, was full of the praise for the defending champions. “You carry the hopes of the entire nation with you,” he told the 30-man squad that leaves on Thursday evening. “As I have been moving through the country, I have felt a lot of support for you to bring it home,” he said, referring to the campaign aimed at retaining the Webb Ellis trophy.
“I too am a part of that support,” he added, then characteristically joked: “I have not had much time to watch any of your games recently. Since I am a pensioner, I have been too busy looking for a new job.”
Mandela was a secret guest of captain Joost van der Westhuizen, who made the first thumping tackle on Jonah Lomu, and was one of the men who neutralised the All Black juggernaut. “It is an enormous honour to have Nelson Mandela here with us tonight. It means a lot to the team,” said Van der Westhuizen.
“You played a very big part in our victory in 1995. We hope that you will share that same Madiba Magic with us this year to carry us through Wales ’99.”