South Africa: At the Paris Final, the President will Back the Boys
It is expected that President Cyril Ramaphosa will be at the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday night, which will feature the Springboks and the All Blacks from New Zealand.
It’s the much-awaited showpiece at the Stade de France in Paris.
“This Saturday, October 28, the President will go to Paris to help the Springboks in their effort to retrieve the Webb Ellis trophy from the Rugby World Cup.” The President has been invited to return to the pitch by captain Siya Kolisi, and he is looking forward to it so that he may help lift the cup for the world champions.
“This will be the first time any country will hold four Rugby World Cup titles. The President wishes the Springboks and the All Blacks well for this showcase which we hope will be a memorable event for those who will be in the stadium as well as the global media audience that will be following the game,” Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.
Magwenya said President Ramaphosa’s presence in the European country will be “an opportunity for a brief bilateral interaction” with French President Emmanuel Macron.
“The President will also take the opportunity to visit the squad at their hotel to deliver words of encouragement on behalf of the nation,” Magwenya stated.
Siya Kolisi, the captain of the Springboks, stated on the team’s official website that they understand the significance of the game for the whole country.
“I think this is the biggest game I’ve ever played. We are thrilled to have another game like this, which I don’t think will happen again in our lifetimes. The quality of [the All Blacks] is well known.
“What we do on Saturday can control the mood of over 62 million South Africans. People have been sending messages saying when we play it is the only time they are happy, and as a team we represent all kinds of people,” Kolisi said.