Boks handed Mbeki’s blessing
2 Sep 2007
President Thabo Mbeki has urged the Springboks to forget about political criticism and focus on winning the World Cup.
The build up to South Africa’s fourth World Cup campaign has seen an outcry by politicians who believe the current squad is still not sufficiently representative of this country. South African Rugby Union chief Regan Hoskins also stated six players of colour in a group of 30 is a ratio that will not be accepted come the global tournament in 2011.
But the South African president told them to put all of this aside and bring home the trophy. He also encouraged them to keep any local temptations at arm’s length.
“While you are away forget all of these controversies that we always raise as politicians, don’t worry about those ones, just play the rugby.
“If they [the French] want to invite you out, and want to give you wine and feed you frog legs, say no thank you, let’s stick to pap and vleis [maize porridge and meat], so that we make sure they don’t do funny things,” Mbeki said.
The Boks will play their first Pool A match this Sunday against Samoa.
22 Comments
2 Sep 2007, 22:13 pm
f*ck dragons
2 Sep 2007, 22:14 pm
How about the politicians forget about rugby for a change.
2 Sep 2007, 22:24 pm
No, thats cool. Mite free up jake to play the game of rugby and not politics as well.Less talk , more rugby.
2 Sep 2007, 22:46 pm
I’m Glad our President is behind our team too, this is like it should be, rugby should be a unifying force in SA…….
Go our 30 Rainbow Bokke warriors !!!!!!!!!!
2 Sep 2007, 23:20 pm
Hope it’s not a hospital pass from Mbeki! In all seriousness, well played Thabo.
3 Sep 2007, 00:02 am
Upgraded site looks great.
Great that he did this, will not win him any votes from the more militant PAC community.
Govan however will approve.
3 Sep 2007, 00:53 am
Good on you, Mr Mbeki.
So, it seems we only have three or four of our countrymen not supporting the Sprinboks, Cheeky Watson, ethiger and nongoloshe, and Luke perhaps.
That’s still too many……
3 Sep 2007, 01:00 am
Pietman.
Plus billions of us living out side of SA too, who still support the bokke.
3 Sep 2007, 01:18 am
CoachPete
Count me in…and make that billions and one!
3 Sep 2007, 03:42 am
Me too Pete, so that is three billion then!
And good on you Mr Mbeki, good vibes all around…
3 Sep 2007, 06:05 am
Me too Pete,so thats a 3 billion and one
3 Sep 2007, 06:45 am
How Patronizing !
Do they think that they are sending off a school boy squad here ?!
Do us a favour and keep your hands off the Boks.
Bloody useless politicians are all talk and no action!
3 Sep 2007, 07:05 am
Good on you Mr Mbeki!
Finally the voice of reason. You go do your job of running the country, and let the boks do their job of winning the world cup.
U have always had my respect. Lets all just shut up about the political representation of the team. Its time to get on with business here, and win this whole damm thing. If that means playing Frans Steyn at 14, then so be it. All I want is for my boys to win the world cup again. I want it soooooo much
3 Sep 2007, 07:41 am
Well done Mr President!!!
3 Sep 2007, 08:26 am
Anvil I am sure that if he had not come out in support of the Bok’s you would have had somthing to say about it too…..
Good on you Mr Prez……
3 Sep 2007, 08:41 am
hmmm, this updated site confuses me, i have a whole rugby field of space on the right hand side of the page, a bit strange.
3 Sep 2007, 08:48 am
Kners – its retained pretty much the same proportions – whats confusing you ?
3 Sep 2007, 09:52 am
not really confusing, just a bit weird. the content of the page takes up the entire left hand size of my screen, with the right hand side being mostly blank. was the same on my home computer.
3 Sep 2007, 09:58 am
Mhhhh can you send me a screenshot so i can check that all is loading correctly, maybe also your screen res – as i suspect this is probably causing the filled left and empty right
3 Sep 2007, 11:09 am
Thanks Mbeki, now maybe Snoop dogg and the gang can get behind our squad too or will they change sides if we bring that little beauty home with us?
3 Sep 2007, 14:14 pm
Timbo,
We are not winning the WC. Jean Div will get injured before the end of first round. WO will cover causing SA backline to have zero attacking potential. In the Semi’s, in a close contested game, the oks will lose because of an inabolity to take advantage of attacking opportunitites.
3 Sep 2007, 15:20 pm
21, why are you so concerned, thought you were a kiwi supporter? And if we do somehow win? re you South African again?
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