CAPE TOWN – Former World Cup-winning flyhalf Joel Stransky says it is “always special to be invited into the Springbok fold” after presenting the team with their match jerseys in Brisbane on Friday.
The Boks take on the Wallabies at the Suncorp Stadium in a must-win Rugby Championship encounter (12pm SA time) if they hope to have any say in winning the title.
The South Africans’ hopes took a massive knock when they went down 32-19 to Argentina in Mendoza in their last match two weeks ago, and now they have it all to do in the Queensland capital.
“It is always special to be invited into the Springbok fold, this is a very special environment,” the 51-year-old Stransky said on Friday.
“As a former player, it is even more special to join the boys; it’s a special culture, and I am really honoured to be here.
“I told them to embrace the moment, and to go out and do something special when they play the Wallabies on Saturday evening.”
Stransky also posed with new cap Cheslin Kolbe, captain Siya Kolisi and coach Rassie Erasmus.
He tweeted afterwards: “Always a great privilege to be touched in some way by the @Springboks culture, but an enormous honor to present the jerseys today, and to feel part of the team! Special good luck for @Cheslin_Kolbe11 on debut!”
Always a great privilege to be touched in some way by the @Springboks culture, but an enormous honor to present the jerseys today, and to feel part of the team! Special good luck for @Cheslin_Kolbe11 on debut! @SuperSportTV pic.twitter.com/F1tGQM65ZX
— Joel Stransky (@stranners) September 7, 2018
The Boks went through their paces one last time in the captain’s run at the Suncorp Stadium on Friday, and received a boost to their chances of victory after Wallaby breakdown specialist David Pocock was ruled out due to a neck injury.
Springbok captains run started a few minutes ago at the Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. The boys are busy with their warm up drills. @MTNza @ASICS_ZA#LoveRugby #AUSvRSA pic.twitter.com/a3OiWu9uDI
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) September 7, 2018
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