CAPE TOWN – Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and other players and team management were treated to a special breakfast in Port Elizabeth this week to celebrate their links to the Eastern Cape.
The Boks will face the Wallabies at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday (5pm kickoff), where a 45 000-strong capacity crowd is expected.
There is an upbeat mood in the rugby community following the Boks’ dramatic 36-34 victory over the All Blacks in Wellington a few weeks ago, and the happy theme continued on Wednesday, the team’s day off from training.
Kolisi, coach Rassie Erasmus, assistant coach Mzwandile Stick, team doctor Konrad von Hagen, Elton Jantjies, Lionel Mapoe, Schalk Brits, Siya Kolisi, Aphiwe Dyantyi and Sikhumbuzo Notshe all hail from the Eastern Cape.
They were treated to a breakfast at Kolisi’s former school Grey Junior. “It’s really special, especially being home, seeing everybody who I grew up with and looking up to, and people supporting us,” the Bok skipper told SuperSport TV.
“We really appreciate it, and it’s awesome coming here and seeing the rugby spirit that the people still have.”
The #Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and a couple of his team mates were treated to nice breakfast this morning at Grey primary, Port Elizabeth,. pic.twitter.com/T0jrhOj01e
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) September 26, 2018
In another activity on Wednesday, three other Springboks – Damian de Allende, Sbu Nkosi and Handre Pollard – visited Kolisi’s first junior school, Emsengeni Primary in Zwide township, where they planted a vegetable garden.
Today I was fortunate enough to join @Springboks @Doogz, Handre Pollard, and Sbu Nkosi as they gave back to the community at Siya Kolisi's former primary school, Emsengeni.
Watch the boys #answerthecall in the video below 💪🇿🇦 #LoveRugby @MTNza pic.twitter.com/HpwibEYliQ
— The Official Bozza (@Official_Bozza) September 26, 2018
Earlier in the week, pupils from the school created a special painting that will be displayed in the Bok change room on Saturday.
The unveiling: A special painting done by learners from Emsengeni Primary will go up in the Springbok change room on Saturday. #NM100 #HeritageDay #BraaiDay pic.twitter.com/Uhd2wjFM7T