Rugby World Cup-winning captain Francois Pienaar believes that Rudolph Straeuli’s Springboks can win the World Cup later this year in Australia.
”South Africa have a great chance of going all the way in the World Cup.” said Pienaar on Tuesday. ”We have brilliant talent in this country and we have a great chance of turning things around,” he said, referring to the Boks’ disasterous end-of-year tour to France, Scotland and England last year.
Pienaar led South Africa to arguably their greatest sporting achievement when he captained the Springbok’s to a memorable victory over New Zealand in the 1995 final at Ellis Park.
”When we drove out of the ground after the (final) match,” said Pienaar, ”it was incredible to see complete strangers embracing each other in the streets.”
Since then that feeling has eluded South African sports fans — whatever the sport — but if Pienaar is to be believed, then celebrations could be just around the corner.
”Once the squad has been selected then they will all be focused on one goal and not have to worry about anything else,” explained the former Lions (Transvaal), Saracens and Springbok flank.
”Anyone of the top sides can beat the other on the day, and there is no doubt that our big match is (the pool fixture) against England,” he said. ”Win that and then we can go all the way to the final.”
”Once in the final one has a 50 per cent chance and anything is possible on the day,” he added.
Pienaar was speaking at the launch of the St Stithians College Easter Rugby Festival at the school on Tuesday.
St Stithians College are celebrating their Jubilee Year and will be hosting the 20th edition of their Easter Rugby Festival next month.
The Saints event is one of the premier schoolboy festivals on the rugby calendar. The team’s participating in this year’s festival are Grey High School (Port Elizabeth), Hilton College, Affies, Pretoria Boys’ High School, Kearsney College, Rondebosch Boys’ High School, St Andrew’s College (Grahamstown), Bishops and KES.
Six boys and six girls hockey teams will also be in action over the weekend at the schools newly laid astroturf. – Sapa