Smit, Els give Boks inspirational talk

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: The Springbok team pose with ex-captain John Smith during a South Africa captain's run and press conference ahead of the QBE International match between England and South Africa at the Royal Garden Hotel on November 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: The Springbok team pose with ex-captain John Smith during a South Africa captain's run and press conference ahead of the QBE International match between England and South Africa at the Royal Garden Hotel on November 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Published Nov 23, 2012

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TWICKENHAM, England – South Africa's rugby team was given some pre-match inspiration on the eve of its final game of 2012 by two of the country's most famous sports stars.

Reigning British Open champion Ernie Els turned up with the claret jug at Twickenham on Friday during the Springboks' final training session ahead of the test match against England.

Also present was John Smit, South Africa's World Cup-winning captain from 2007 who handed out the jerseys to the players.

Smit, who plays in England with Saracens, told the Springboks to “embrace” the pressure and “privilege you have of pulling that green and gold jersey over your head and representing millions of South Africans.”

Els owns a house in nearby Wentworth, the headquarters of the European Tour. – Sapa-AP

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