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50-million behind the Boks: Zuma

30 August 2011

The Springboks carry the hopes of 50-million South Africans on their shoulders, President Jacob Zuma told the 30-man squad and management during the team's official send-off to the Rugby World Cup at the President's Guest House in Pretoria on Monday.

President Zuma and the Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula wished the team well for the seven-week tournament, which begins on 9 September.

The team departs on Thursday with a Fans' Farewell from Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton at 3.30pm.

"This is a joyous occasion," Zuma told the squad, "to see our best citizens who belong to our national team, the Springboks, as they prepare to leave for New Zealand.

'We stand united'

"We stand united at this very moment as a nation as we bid farewell to our Bokke, the world champions.

"Remember that you have a huge responsibility. You carry on your shoulders the dreams and aspirations of the whole nation. We believe you can do it, you have what it takes. Go out there and do your best, and your best is to bring the trophy back to Mzansi – that is your national duty," he told the squad.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said the team was honoured and humbled by the responsibility. "It was a great privilege to be invited and for the President to take the time to send us off," he said.

"It really brought home just how much the success of the Springboks has meant to our country over the years and how many hopes this team carries to New Zealand.

'Very humbling'

"It is very humbling to have the entire country united behind this small group of South Africans, but we will do everything in our power to live up to their expectations."

The Springboks go into the Rugby World Cup as the defending champions. They won the previous edition of the event in France in 2007, beating England 15-6 in the final, and finished the tournament undefeated.

The Boks missed the first two World Cups, but have lifted the Webb Ellis Cup twice in four attempts since then; their style of play, based upon a strong defensive game has seemed particularly well suited to the demands of World Cup tournaments.

Best World Cup record

They boast the best winning percentage – 87.5% – in the history of the competition, thanks to an excellent record of 21 wins and only three losses, two of which came in 2003. In 1999, South Africa finished third, while the World Cup winning campaigns of 1995 and 2007 included unbeaten runs of six and seven victories respectively.

Many would guess this year's hosts New Zealand to be in second place, but that honour belongs to Australia, the only country besides South Africa to win the World Cup twice, with titles in 1991 and 1999.

Only once previously has a team from the northern hemisphere claimed the title. That was England in 2003 after a 20-17 win over hosts Australia in the final. Interestingly, though, the 1995 final at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, between South Africa and New Zealand, is the only one to feature two southern hemisphere teams.

Most pundits expect that one of the southern hemisphere's big three will again raise the Webb Ellis Trophy on 23 October at Eden Park in Auckland. The All Blacks are favourites, but enter the event on the back of successive losses to South Africa and Australia.

SA Rugby and SAinfo reporter