They started off with a welcome dinner with the mayor of Port Elizabeth and the Wallabies, and the Springboks continued with their Heritage Day celebrations with a number of special events on Monday.
The Boks are in the Eastern Cape ahead of Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against the Australians at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (5pm kickoff).
Siya Kolisi’s team are riding high after their epic 36-34 triumph over the All Blacks in Wellington on September 15, and hope to continue with their winning ways this weekend.
But following the mayoral function on Sunday night, the Boks got into Heritage Day mode on Monday by getting down to business on the field.
They opened their practice to the public, and held a signing session afterwards.
Fantastic welcome for Siya Kolisi and his Springbok squad as they arrive for this afternoon's training session at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. #Mandela100 pic.twitter.com/x8vyHhg2dW
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) September 24, 2018
Thanks PE fans for your amazing support today! #Mandela100 #HeritageDay2018 pic.twitter.com/s4FuDSJHHT
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) September 24, 2018
The highlight of the day, though, might have been in the evening, as the Boks enjoyed a braai at the stadium with special visitors – pupils from the Emsengeni Primary in Zwide, where Kolisi hails from.
Young Phumelela (11) from Emsengeni Primary, gives Aphiwe Dyantyi some life advice at a special #BraaiDay celebration in PE. #HeritageDay pic.twitter.com/UIdKrq18AH
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) September 24, 2018
The children created a unique painting to celebrate what would’ve been Nelson Mandela’s centenary this year, which SA Rugby said on their @Springboks Twitter account will go up on the wall 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