Springbok number eight and former captain Bobby Skinstad is refusing to give up on his dream of forcing his way into South Africa’s Rugby World Cup squad.
Skinstad, who broke his right arm playing a club match last month and was subsquently omitted from coach Rudolf Straueli’s 30-man squad, said he still plans to travel to Australia for the October 10 to November 22 tournament.
”I want to be in Australia from the quarterfinals onwards because you never know what might happen,” said Skinstad.
”I’m working hard on my fitness because I want to be in good enough nick that they could choose me,” added Skinstad, in Hong Kong to talk at a luncheon.
The one-time golden boy of South African rugby, Skinstad has had a disappointing season and has hardly figured in the Springboks set-up.
His last international appearance came as a replacement during the 26-25 victory over Argentina in June. The following week he was due to captain the South Africa A team in a match against Namibia, but pulled out with a bout of flu.
He was included in the South African squad for the home leg of the Tri-Nations series but did not play, and was then left out of the 28-man squad for Australia and New Zealand before being excluded for the World Cup.
”I was devastated not to be in the squad,” Skinstad said.
”Everyone wants the honour of playing in the World Cup. But I’m trying to see the positive side look it as an opportunity to rejuvenate after a hard season.”
Skinstad declined to be drawn on the racism row that has thrown South Africa’s World Cup preparations into turmoil, with allegations that lock Geo Cronje refused to share a room with a coloured teammate.
”I captained the Under-19s, which was the first fully multiracial side to represent South Africa, with 15 black and 15 white players,” he added.
”I’ve never seen racism as an issue in any of the South Africa squads that I have been involved with,” said Skinstad, who welcomed the move to delay an inquiry into the race row until after the World Cup.
”As far as South Africa and the World Cup is concerned, that can only be a good thing. The players need to be able to concentrate on the tournament with no distractions.” — Sapa-AFP