Trevor Manuel presents Boks' Test jerseys
24 July 2009, 14:45
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 at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Manuel told the squad that they carried the pride of the nation.
"It is an honour to be here on the eve of this Test," he said. "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."
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.
He also told the Springbok squad that he felt like a talisman to the Springboks.
"I presented the Freedom Cup in 2004 when the Springboks beat the All Blacks 40-26 in Johannesburg and I was also at the Stade de France in Paris for the Rugby World Cup final in 2007, so maybe I am a lucky charm," he added. - Sapa
Manuel told the squad that they carried the pride of the nation.
"It is an honour to be here on the eve of this Test," he said. "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."
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.
He also told the Springbok squad that he felt like a talisman to the Springboks.
"I presented the Freedom Cup in 2004 when the Springboks beat the All Blacks 40-26 in Johannesburg and I was also at the Stade de France in Paris for the Rugby World Cup final in 2007, so maybe I am a lucky charm," he added. - Sapa
Johannesburg
