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Springboks trapped in London amid airport chaos
By Ian Cameron
The Springboks have found themselves trapped in London after their flight to South Africa was cancelled.
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The Boks team which triumphed 41-13 against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday was scheduled to return to South Africa on Sunday night. Several delays led to the cancellation of their flight late on Sunday night which forced the team to stay in London for an extra night.
The squad is now set to depart London late on Monday afternoon and is expected to arrive in Johannesburg in the early hours of Tuesday morning. This delay has affected the team’s preparation schedule for the upcoming Castle Lager Incoming Series.
As a result of this hold-up Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus will announce his squad for the series on Tuesday.
Despite the delays, the Boks were in high spirits at the airport late into the night.
“Our flight was cancelled,” Shanthini Naidoo said on social media, adding: “But there are bright smiles and songs – as only South Africans can do.”
“It’s after midnight in Heathrow. The Springboks are dancing.
“Surreal. We’re tired and dirty, and don’t know what time our flight will be rescheduled. But the Springboks are dancing.”
Warren Gatland’s Wales produced a battling performance before world champions South Africa turned on the power to triumph 41-13 at Twickenham.
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Despite conceding two tries and collecting two yellow cards during the opening 15 minutes Wales defied most pre-match odds by making it a contest until two late South African scores.
Wales’ list of absentees ran comfortably into double figures and they were widely expected to suffer a crushing defeat. But they trailed only 14-13 at half-time following a try for captain Dewi Lake with fly-half Sam Costelow adding two penalties and a conversion.
The Springboks – who are building for a two-Test series against fellow heavyweights Ireland in July – often struggled to impose themselves on a first outing since retaining the World Cup eight months ago.
The Boks may be without the services of potential call-up and rising Bulls star Cameron Hanekom. Hanekom is understood to have pulled his hamstring in the URC final loss to Glasgow.
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