/ 16 July 2011

Boks to leave SA on Saturday night

The Springbok team is expected to leave for their away leg of the Tri-Nations series on Saturday evening, the South African Rugby Union (Saru) said.

The squad were forced to return shortly after take-off on Friday night after the third engine on their Qantas Boeing 747 flight, headed for Australia, had overheated.

“There has obviously been some disruption but we are on top of it and have made the necessary adjustments to our planning,” Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said on Saturday.

We had timed our departure with a view to managing the effects of jet lag and have had to re-examine those plans.

“We’ve looked at the programme and it has had an effect, but we will manage it.

“Obviously there were a few stressful moments but we have given the players a free day to relax before we get back together this evening.”

The team spent the night at a hotel at OR Tambo International airport, Saru said, after the Qantas flight had landed safely.

“Qantas have been very good,” said De Villiers.

“They kept us informed throughout the night and their general manager came through to the team meeting [on Saturday morning] to explain the situation and answer any questions from the players.

“Things like this draw people closer together and hopefully that’ll be the effect on this team.

“Right now it’s all systems go and we’re looking forward to getting to Australia and preparing for a Test match.”

The Springboks face Australia in their opening match of the Tri-Nations in Sydney next weekend before they travel to Wellington for the second and final match of their tour against New Zealand. — Sapa