RWC 2011: South Africa waits
Brad Morgan
15 November 2005
Nerves must be nibbling at South Africa's 2011 Rugby World Cup bid CEO Francois Pienaar as he and his team prepare for the moment of truth when the hosts of the tournament are announced in Dublin on Thursday.
Pienaar, the Springboks' World Cup winning captain in 1995, will be accompanied to Dublin by SA Rugby Union President Brian van Rooyen, Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhenkesi Stofile, bid chairman Mthobi Tyamzashe, and bid consultant Rian Oberholzer.
The South Africans are counting on International Rugby Board (IRB) members to honour past agreements by backing South Africa's bid.
Deals
Pienaar says previous deals should have a big influence on the outcome of the vote. The 24 IRB member countries' choices are between South Africa, New Zealand and Japan.
Previously, deals were struck with European countries in which they would vote for South Africa to host a later tournament - that now being
2011 - in exchange for SA's support for previous World Cups.
One of the key focus points of South Africa's bid is the development of rugby on a global scale, with Africa receiving special emphasis.
With the 2010 Soccer World Cup set for South Africa just a year before the Rugby World Cup, there is little doubt that the infrastructure will be in place for a successful and highly efficient hosting of rugby's showcase event.
Upgraded stadiums
Due to the Soccer World Cup, most of the country's main sports stadiums will have undergone upgrades, including greatly increasing the seating at the grounds.
Pienaar says his bid team is full of confidence and it seems he has reason to feel that way. A leaked report of the IRB evaluation committee's report suggests that South Africa's bid has "the greatest potential of the tenders".
Pienaar also believes that South Africa's bid book was the best of the three delivered to the
IRB.
Also playing into South Africa's favour is that it falls into a similar time zone to the European television market, which is something neither New Zealand nor Japan can claim. With television income making up about 60% of the IRB's revenues from the tournament, it could prove to be a vital point in the SA bid.
Over two million tickets
Pienaar believes over two million tickets - about 80% of capacity - would be sold for the tournament, which he reckons would draw close on 150 000 overseas visitors.
South Africa is a relatively cheap travel destination and this, too, could boost the country's bid.
Bid chairman Mthobi Tyamzashe says reaction to the team's lobbying has been very positive, but that hasn't helped quell his nerves. He says good feedback does not necessarily translate into votes.
Two rounds of voting will take place, with the first round eliminating one country and then the second determining the host
country, based on the bid that gets the most votes.
Last minute lobbying is still ongoing in Europe and the bid team remains hopeful that all the hard work will pay off.
Madiba magic?
There is plenty of speculation that former President Nelson Mandela could join the bid committee before the announcement.
One of the enduring memories of the Springboks' 1995 World Cup triumph was of Madiba presenting Pienaar with the World Cup while wearing the Bok captain's number six jersey.
It could be that the two leaders will again be celebrating great Rugby World Cup news. The world will know on 17 November.
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