Rassie Erasmus asks fans to send messages to Boks before France Test

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has asked supporters back home to send messages of encouragement to the team as the world champions prepare for their Nations Championship match against France in Paris on Friday, IOL reported.

Erasmus used social media to tell fans that, although the squad is thousands of kilometres from home, the players can still feel the support. Supporters can send a video, a written message or a voice note, either to the team as a whole or to a specific player. The team has promised to make sure the messages reach the players before the match.

The France Test

South Africa meet France at the Stade de France, with a 10.10pm kick-off as listed by IOL. The Springboks are looking to stay unbeaten in the Nations Championship. They also have a strong record at the famous venue, having won their last five matches against Les Bleus there. Erasmus has named a strong side for the game.

According to IOL, the coach knows his players will face a fierce crowd in Paris, and messages from home could give them another edge as they get ready for the Test.

The report suggested a few light-hearted ideas for fans. Supporters could send flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu some words of motivation, or promise Ox Nché free cake when he returns to South Africa if he gets the better of the French scrum.

How supporters can take part

For readers who want to get involved, the steps are simple:

• Go to messagesfromhome.net, the website named by Erasmus and IOL.
• Record a video or voice note, or write a message.
• Address it to the whole squad or to one player.
• Send it in before Friday’s kick-off if you want the players to see it ahead of the France game.

The need for support will not end in Paris. Next week the Springboks travel to Dublin to face Ireland, where IOL says they will almost certainly be seen as enemy number one in front of a passionate home crowd.

For now, the message from the coach is straightforward: the Springboks may be far from home, but they are not on their own.

This story is based on reporting by IOL.