The Springbok squad gave the Bulls players a warm reception when the Pretoria-based players joined the national team at their pre-season training in Bloemfontein on Monday.
All the Bulls players, minus scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, reported to camp just after lunch — barely a few hours after they had arrived back in the country from Sydney in Australia.
Springbok captain John Smit led the warm reception, while some teammates carried a banner that read: ”Welcome back Bulls, we are proud of you.”
Said Smit: ”They really did us proud on Saturday and, with a bit of luck, could so easily have won the game. Victor and the boys deserve praise for the manner in which they fought back from a shaky start to eventually come a hair’s breadth away from playing in the Super 12 final.”
On Saturday, a gallant Bulls team went down by 13-23 to the Waratahs in the Super 12 semifinal match played at the Aussie Stadium in Sydney.
Du Preez only got back into the country on Monday night with the rest of his Bulls teammates, and was to join his national colleagues on Tuesday morning in the Free State capital.
Fullback Percy Montgomery, highest points-scorer for South Africa in Tests, also joined the national squad after his flight from the United Kingdom.
Earlier, the squad started the day with an eye and visual session with internationally acclaimed specialist Dr Sherryle Calder, a recent addition to the Springbok management team.
The first field-training session at Shimla Park was to take place on Tuesday morning after the Bulls players were delayed during their transit to South Africa. — Sapa