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reports from Port Elizabeth
Ever since that victory over Australia in the World Cup opener, the Springboks have been acclaimed nationwide. Official visits, mobbing by their female fan club - all now part of a normal day's work.
In the popularity stakes in Port Elizabeth, however, they have met their match. The Canadians have proved so popular in their 17 days here that they are claiming home advantage for today's game.
Yesterday, while the South Africans were taking a coaching clinic out of town, the Canucks announced a sponsorship programme by which they will give financial support to schools in two local townships. "We did not want to be remembered as a group who came into the township for a couple of hours, had photos taken and then went back to a comfortable hotel," Gareth Rees, the Canadian captain, said.
The Canadians are already assured of leaving an impressive legacy in rugby terms and, after their gutsy performance in going down 27-11 to Australia on Wednesday, they are still confident that on the right day they can match anyone.
It is, of course, highly unlikely that today will be that day, particularly since South Africa still need a win to guarantee a place in the quarter- finals. Yet South Africa are not fielding a first-choice line-up. Seven of the players who were on the sideline last Thursday have been included.
"It is only fair to give all the players the best opportunity of staking a claim for selection should we reach the quarter- finals," Kitch Christie, the Springbok coach, said.
As a result, the Springboks warned that what they serve up today may not be quite the feast hoped for. "We have to turn their forwards and not do anything silly," Francois Pienaar, the captain, said. "The encounter may be boring for some of the time, but we just have to secure the three points."
SOUTH AFRICA (v Canada, Port Elizabeth, today): A Joubert (Natal); P Hendriks (Transvaal), B Venter (Orange Free State), C Scholtz (Transvaal), J Small (Natal); J Stransky (Western Province), J Roux (Transvaal); G Pagel (Western Province), J Dalton (Transvaal), M Hurter (Northern Transvaal), H Strydom, K Wiese (both Transvaal), R Brink (Western Province), F Pienaar (Transvaal), A Richter (Northern Transvaal).
CANADA: S Stewart (UBCOB); W Stanley (UBC), C Stewart (Western Province), S Gray (Kats), D Lougheed (Toronto Welsh); G Rees (Newport), J Graf; E Evans (both UBCOB), M Cardinal (James Bay), R Snow (Dogs), G Ennis (Kats), A Charron (Ottowa Irish), I Gordon (James Bay), G MacKinnon (Britannia Lions), C McKenzie (UBCOB).
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