Bok legend Andre Venter looked like a man on a mission when he wheeled into the lobby of the South African team hotel on Friday. The hugely influential former enforcer‚ who has been confined to a wheelchair since being diagnosed with a degenerative syndrome of the central nervous system‚ was the man assigned to hand the players their jerseys ahead of Saturday’s second Test against England. The handing-over ceremony is an opportunity to summon words of encouragement and inspiration and the former flank wouldn’t have had to say much to stir Bok emotions. If the virtues of the enduring human spirit were lost on the Boks on Friday‚ then Venter could at least have warned them of the perils of complacency when you’re 1-0 up in a series against England. Venter was a strapping backrow bruiser when the Springboks brought a 1-0 lead here in 2000. They‚ however‚ ran into the unerring boot of Jonny Wilkinson who mercilessly punished their wide range of indiscretions. Eight penalties and a dropp...
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