Bakkies hits out at red Bok jerseys

Cape Town - Legendary former Springbok lock Bakkies Botha has expressed his dissatisfaction after it was revealed that South Africa will play in a red jersey when they tackle Argentina in their Rugby Championship encounter in Salta on August 26.

SA Rugby earlier this week announced that the jersey had been commissioned to mark the 25th anniversary of rugby unity in South Africa.

The Springboks traditionally play in a white away jersey, and normally only when there is a colour clash against Ireland.

When asked about the red jersey on Twitter by former Bok flank Rob Louw, the 85-Test capped Botha commented:

NEVER ??????????????????only red im dreaming of in my first test is the blood I'm pulling from my opponents. ????????

— Bakkies Botha (@BakkiesBotha4) August 10, 2017

And what legacy is there in a red springbok jersey that you can pass on to your opponent. Or anybody.

— Bakkies Botha (@BakkiesBotha4) August 10, 2017

SA Rugby said the red Springbok jersey completes a “jigsaw puzzle” of playing and training apparel that was prepared for use in 2017. The colours of the flag - green, yellow, blue and red, as well as black and white - have all featured in training or playing apparel this year.

“We wanted to mark the 25th anniversary of rugby in South Africa in a striking and memorable way and in partnership with ASICS came up with this bold alternate strip,” said CEO Jurie Roux.

“We chose the colours of the flag as a uniting symbol and believed that red made the boldest statement as a tribute to the achievement of rugby unity, which was completed before democracy arrived in South Africa.”