Adnaan Mohamed - Sport24's man on tour with the Boks

Sydney - Guard it with your life!

That was the instruction given to Springbok loose forwards Heinrich Brüssow and Ryan Kankowski by Springbok captain John Smit after they were given the task of guarding the Tri-Nations trophy and the Freedom Cup before the team’s departure from Auckland to Sydney on Monday morning.

Smit was in a particularly buoyant mood at the airport in Auckland after the Springboks' 32-29 victory over the All Blacks in Hamilton on Saturday. The Boks not only clinched the Tri-Nations title but also won the Freedom Cup and the Nelson Mandela Challenge plate.

The Bok skipper gave Kankowski and Brüssow the responsibility of looking after the trophies for the duration of their journey home after their highly successful tour of Australasia.

“I am delegating the two of you to look after these trophies until we land in South Africa. You guys have worked extremely hard for this and you have earned the right to carry it,” said Smit.

“This is a serious matter. It is your responsibility to make sure nothing happens to the trophies until we get back to South Africa. If anything happens to it you will have to take the blame. Guard it with your life,” warned Smit.

According to Brüssow who now has a Currie Cup, a series victory against the British and Irish Lions and a Tri-Nations title under his belt, it means a lot to him to be able to carry the silverware.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” said the diminutive openside flank.

“It’s just great to be part of this team. I am just grateful to be given the opportunity and I am savouring every minute of it. The trophy is quite heavy to carry around all the time. I have however been given a task and I will make sure that nothing happens to it,” he quipped.

The Springboks will arrive back in South Africa on flight SA 7701 from Sydney.

The team is scheduled to arrive at OR Tambo International Airport at 16:10 on Monday.





Silverware heading for SA (File)