South African rugby fans will gather around their television sets at about 6pm on Thursday to hear if the 2011 World Cup will again be held here.
The result of the tug-of-war to host the tournament will be broadcast on CSN and Supersport 1.
As was the case on the day when the 2010 Soccer World Cup was awarded to South Africa, nails will be bitten to the quick before the decision of the International Rugby Board is announced in Dublin.
If South Africa gets the nod ahead of New Zealand and Japan, there will be wild celebrations around the country, as was the case with the soccer announcement.
Before crossing to Ireland, Supersport will broadcast a recording of this year’s Currie Cup final (from 3pm). At 4.45pm, Supersport crosses to Dublin and, if everything goes according to plan, the announcement of the 2011 host will be made at about 6pm.
South Africa’s presentation to the rugby bosses begins at 1.15pm. Francois Pienaar, who led South Africa to the World Cup in 1995 on home soil, is the head of the bid committee.
The other members of the committee are Brian van Rooyen, the president of the South African Rugby Union; Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhenkesi Stofile; the chairperson of the bid committee, Mthobi Tyamzashe; and Rian Oberholzer, who was employed as a consultant by the bid committee. — Sapa