Newskoop Front Row Rugby

Springboks’ Lowest Moment: The 2003 Rugby World Story

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South Africa came into the 2003 Rugby World Cup with low expectations. Having suffered 50-point defeats to New Zealand and England in the year leading up to the tournament the Boks were hoping to overachieve. It started well enough with a comprehensive win over Uruguay before the Springboks were exposed against England. Despite consequent wins over tournament debutants Georgia and Samoa, they could not avoid a quarter-final meeting against the All Blacks. After a 29-9 hammering the team returned home and shortly after coach Rudolf Straeuli was sacked, revelations surfaced about a pre-tournament military-style bootcamp Kamp Staaldraad where players were humiliated in the name of team building. In this episode Peter looks back at that dark time in Springbok rugby history and you’ll also hear first-hand from five of the players who were actually there.
28 Sep 2023 English South Africa Rugby · Sports

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