Springbok fans are hopping mad over the World Cup kit design which has seen the Bok logo moved to the sleeve and the South African flag flying on the buttocks.
With barely 100 days to go to the Rugby World Cup in England, the Boks launched their kit for the tournament at a ceremony in Cape Town yesterday.
But as the players took to the ramp, fans took to social media to voice their outrage at the virtual absence of the springbok, which only appears, much diminished, on the left sleeve.
Upset fans bombarded Twitter and the official Springbok Facebook page with comments.
Quinton Milton du Plessis said the Boks would not win a World Cup again without the springbok displayed on the chest. In both SA World Cup trophy wins, in 1995 and 2007, the Bok emblem was displayed on the front of the kit.
“Every year, Saru finds new ways of disappointing its supporters and still no springbok on the chest: mark my words, as long as that springbok is on the sleeve, SA will not win another RWC,” he said.
undefinedTwitter user @NotDeKock said sarcastically: “Love having our flag on the a**.”
Some thought the decision was political. Hermann Viljoen said: “Political interference by our corrupt government.”
Maurits Wilhelm added: “Where the hell is the proud Bok emblem? Take away that ridiculous protea! I smell ANC mingling…”
Ryan Irvine said it looked cheap.
SA Rugby Union spokesman Andy Colquhoun said the decision to move the logo was due to the World Rugby regulations, which stated that the front of the jersey was for the competition’s branding.
“This is the second World Cup where this has happened – even in 2011, the Bok emblem was on the sleeve,” he said.
Colquhoun said the size of the springbok was also determined by the regulations.
“This is only for the World Cup,” he said.
He said a post-tournament jersey would have the Bok logo return to the front of the jersey.
There were a few people in support of the bok being moved.
Garry Allsopp or @garryallsopp tweeted: “#BoksInASICS about time that springbok was moved. Not a unifying symbol for most South Africans.”
Johann Pollard said: “I like it. Move with the times, people.”
And, this morning, there were 1 686 Facebook likes for the new kit with the picture shared 144 times. - The Star