Springboks shut down André Esterhuizen questions ahead of Wallabies clash
André Esterhuizen will captain the Springboks for the first time against Australia in Perth on Sunday, but questions about reports concerning an alleged 2012 racial-abuse incident involving him were shut down by the team.
The Springboks have refused to answer any questions regarding captain André Esterhuizen's alleged racial comment from his school days as they prepare for their upcoming Test match against the Wallabies in Perth. Esterhuizen was appointed as the 68th captain of the world champions this week following head coach Rassie Erasmus' decision to make significant changes to the team.
Only two players from the initial starting lineup remain, with notable absences including regular captain Siya Kolisi, stand-in Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jesse Kriel. Erasmus explained that naming Esterhuizen as captain is part of a broader effort to expand the leadership within the squad ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Esterhuizen, who became the 68th captain of the Springboks, expressed his honor in leading the team, emphasizing that the focus remains on the collective effort of the squad. He also praised Siya Kolisi as a significant leader and cited the importance of team dynamics in his leadership mindset. The Springbok media team, however, urged journalists to concentrate on game-related matters during the pre-match press conference, clearly distancing themselves from the controversy surrounding Esterhuizen's past racial slur.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
