South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula supports the Springboks for Rugby World Cup 2011 - Rugby News
South African Sports Minister, Fikile Mbalula, has stated that he stands behind his national rugby side, Springboks, at their lowest ebb. Mbalula consoled his side on August 1 after their bitter losses and asked them to pick their game in the Rugby World Cup 2011. The inexperienced Boks are in big trouble after 21 key players were left behind for the opening two matches of the Tri-Nations Cup 2011.
Adding to their problems has been their miserable performance so far. The Springboks could not resist before the seasoned sides of the Wallabies and All Blacks and proved to be easy targets in both games played so far. The Wallabies tamed the Springboks by 39-20 in the opening match of the ongoing event whereas the All Blacks thumped them by an insulting difference of 40-7 in another game.
The current World Cup holders, Springboks, were compelled to select a young side for the all important tournament before Rugby World Cup 2011, as their 21 mainstream players were rested after the exhausting season of Super Rugby 2011. The Boks were also being accused of resting a large number of the players tactfully to keep them fresh for the forthcoming RWC. However, South African Rugby Union kept on denying such rumours even after New Zealand media reported secret training camps for injured players.
Talking to reporters in a press conference, Fikile Mbalula, asked his people not to be disappointed with the recent performance of the Springboks and asked them to hope for the best in RWC.
Fikile Mbalula said that, “Our task is to win the war, the Tri-Nations is the battle and we can lose against the Wallabies and New Zealand but we must not lose the war at the World Cup. Wear that jersey every Friday and we want to express to John Smit that they have the unwavering, unshaken support and that they must play and make us proud.”
Mbalula further said that, “South Africa has a proud history of being a successful sporting nation.”
South African Rugby Union has welcomed the unconditional support of Sports Minister and said that it will help their national side come out of a gloomy situation.
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