South African Minister in the Presidency, Trevor Manuel, on Friday presented the Springboks with their Test jerseys for their Tri-Nations clash with the All Blacks in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Manuel, the former minister of finance who currently leads the National Planning Commission, told the squad that they carried the pride of the nation.
”It is an honour to be here on the eve of this Test. Those of us who are not on the field support you because you carry our pride on and off the field. Winning is not only about defeating the All Blacks but also about continuing to make all of us proud to be South African,” said the minister.
Manuel said the Springboks’ win at the 1995 Rugby World Cup was an important turning point for the country and for rugby.
”In 1995, people were dancing in the streets in Soweto for the first time because the Springboks had won. That was a catalyst for rugby. Madiba and Francois Pienaar made us all feel South African,” he said.
The Minister in the Presidency also told the Springbok squad that he felt like a talisman to the Springboks.
”I handed over a trophy [Freedom Cup] in 2004 [Springboks defeated the All Blacks 40-26 in Johannesburg] and I was also at the Stade de France in Paris in 2007 [Rugby World Cup final], so maybe I am a lucky charm,” added Manuel. — Sapa