| |
|
| ||||||||||||||||
 Springbok support Fans support defending champions
Posted: Thursday October 28, 1999 04:52 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- The South African rugby team has been overwhelmed by messages of support not only from its homeland but from thousands of compatriots based in London. Coach Nick Mallett said Thursday that in the run-up to last week's match against England the team was receiving more than 1,000 e-mails every day wishing them good luck and that the figure was growing ahead of Saturday's semifinal clash with Australia at Twickenham. Among the messages the team had received well-wishes from South Africa's President, the Sports Minister and the country's ambassadors in Paris and London. "It's a fantastic feeling of support from everyone and it's really helped us," said Mallett. "I think half the crowd at Murrayfield for our game against Scotland must have been South African and we are expecting tremendous support at Twickenham on Saturday. "We've heard stories of people going to work in their offices in London on Monday wearing a tie over their Springbok jerseys. Those people have had to take some stick since we lost to England last time but now it's their turn to enjoy the moment and we just hope we can extend it for a while yet." Captain Joost van der Westhuizen said the support had been a real lift for the players. "It all went a bit quiet up in Edinburgh with the games against Spain and Uruguay but since we went to Paris the whole atmosphere has lifted," said the scrumhalf. "In 1995 we really felt we had the support of the whole nation and now we're starting to realize that everyone back home, as well as the thousands over here, are really behind us this time too. "We want them all to know that all their messages are well-received and it's a great thing to have that behind us."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. | |||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
| |||||||||||||||||
