Springboks strong challengers for 2019 Rugby World Cup: Alexander

South Africa Rugby Union (Saru) president Mark Alexander strongly believes that the Springboks are ready to go and compete for the upcoming 2019 Rugby World Cup starting next month in Japan.

This comes on the back of a six year plan the mother body bought into when Director of Rugby and Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus returned to take over the reins at Saru’s lowest almost two years ago. Alexander says they have managed to rebuild Saru’s image.

The World Rugby recently elected executive, Alexander, spoke to SABC Sports at the Invictus Medallion Collection launch at Monte Casino in Fourways in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

He adds that The Cape Mint, Saru and MyPlayers (spelt one word) Organization initiative was a great way to commemorate 25 years of democracy in South Africa given the impact rugby has in the country.

Saru is one of the Federations under pressure from the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) Transformation in Sport after failing to meet their targets in their last review conducted over the last two years.

However, Alexander believes that Erasmus has tremendously turned the team around and that Saru will comfortably pass their next review.

With the Rugby World Cup starting on September 20 in Japan, Alexander also confirmed that the Boks have been, as previous campaigns, promised handsome bonuses should the reach the knockout stages of the world showpiece. – Report by Thando Gqamane