adminJOHANNESBURG. – Springbok captain Jean de Villiers hopes his team can “put a smile on Madiba’s face” and beat Argentina as they open their Castle Rugby Championship campaign at FNB Stadium in Soweto today. The Boks will face off with Argentina in an unique double-header which sees the national football team, Bafana Bafana face Burkina Faso at the same venue in the Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day.
The Boks will be looking for a good opening win to continue their momentum after six consecutive victories since November last year, but with the week holding greater significance because they will be playing for the former State President, the Boks will want to impress even more.
With Madiba lying in a Pretoria hospital for almost two months now, De Villiers has spoken of his desire to bring a fitting performance on the field to honour the icon, and while the week’s events have seen several more events and commitments for players than they would normally experience when facing a test match, they have taken it in their stride.
De Villiers speaks of a busy countdown to kickoff, but also of one which contains much excitement.
“The week has been pretty busy, and there has been a lot to do. Just think about the magnitude of the game, Madiba and what he has done for this country. Every game you play for the Springboks is special. If you add to that playing for Madiba and putting that on the line as well, then suddenly it just gets massive.
“ It is going to be a fantastic day, not only for sportsmen but for all South Africans — a day to celebrate the life of a fantastic man and of a person who has given so much to rugby and to sport and to the country. This is just to give back a little bit.
“The pressure is definitely on to get a good result, and hopefully we can put up a good performance and get a good result.
“Hopefully where Madiba is lying in his hospital bed, hopefully we can bring a smile to his face,” De Villiers added. The Bok captain spoke with emotion about the role that Nelson Mandela had played not only in his sporting life, but also as a South African with a love for his country.
“My first memory of Nelson Mandela was when he walked out of jail at Victor Verster Prison. I grew up in Paarl and it is a few kilometres from where we stayed and it was a massive day for South Africa. After the time he spent in prison and made a massive difference in this country.
“He managed to get the whole of South Africa together so that we stand for one thing. He did so much for sport, and it’s something that I and everybody in this team are thankful for.” De Villiers said while some had noticed the extra commitments, it hasn’t put the Boks off their stride and come kickoff, they will be ready.
“There were extra commitments for us this week. But you have to put it into context. It is a game that is being played for an icon, not only in South Africa but worldwide.
“We wanted to do our part in the spectacle and perhaps at times we’ve lost focus on the game. The game is tomorrow and we have a few sessions together as a team, and by the time we get onto the field tomorrow we will be ready to firstly play for Madiba, and secondly be ready to take on the Argentinians.”
And if they do that, then not only will they put a smile on Madiba’s face, but it will spread to the rest of the country as well. — Supersport.com.
Online Reporter