Defending Rugby World Cup champions South Africa have left for New Zealand as they bid to become the first team to win the Webb Ellis trophy three times.

The biggest names in South African rugby joined tens of thousands of fans dressed in the team’s signature green and gold, in Johannesburg to send the squad off to Wellington for the eight week tournament.

The streets were cordoned off to traffic as about 20,000 fans spilled on to the streets.

The 1995 World Cup victory on home soil was seen as a defining moment in the country’s history as former President Nelson Mandela and former captain Francois Pienaar helped unite white and black South Africans.

Ranked third in the world, John Smit’s team will start their Pool D campaign against Wales on September 11th followed by matches against Fiji, Namibia and Samoa.

South Africa, with 18 players remaining from the victorious 2007 squad, is among the favourites to lift the trophy.

They will arrive in NZ at 11.58pm tonight.

Meanwhile, Fiji will play against Namibia next Saturday at 3.30pm in their opening World Cup pool game.

You can catch the exclusive live radio commentary of the match on Viti FM with the new voice of rugby, Malakai Veisamasama and 2007 World Cup coach, Ilivasi Tabua.


Story by: Dreu Vukailagi