Naas Botha cheers on the Springboks from his US home

The Springboks will have the support of thousands of South African expats living in the US, where they will take on the All Blacks in the Greatest Rivalry series in Baltimore on the weekend. This includes a former national team player – Naas Botha – who now calls America their second home.

South Africa have won two out of the four test matches, with the finale set to take place at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, 12 September.

Naas moved to the US earlier this year, where he now works as the director of rugby at the Kansas City Blues Rugby Club in Missouri.

He played his first official test match against the All Blacks in 1981 at Lancaster Park in Christchurch.

NAAS BOTHA CHEERS ON THE SPRINGBOKS

Speaking to EWN, Naas Botha shared his predictions about the Springboks and All Blacks’ final Greatest Rivalry test match, which will take place in Baltimore, Maryland.

He shared: “I would tend to think we do have the upper hand. I think we gave him a psychological blow last weekend. All we need to do is we need to start well.

“If we start well, we can actually put them away nicely…it can then turn into the psychological aspect where the opposition feels, oh, here we go again.”

Naas – who is based in Kansas – was careful  not  to underestimate the All Blacks

He added, “I’ve never seen a bad New Zealand side. I’ve never seen a bad Springbok side,”

‘SOUTH AFRICA WILL HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART’

Earlier this year, Naas Botha and his family emigrated to the US in a move to further the sporting interests of his soccer-playing daughters. 

The former flyhalf has also secured a position in rugby coaching, as the director of rugby at the Kansas City Blues Rugby Club in Missouri.

Ahead of his move, Naas shared a farewell letter to his fellow South Africans.

He told Maroela Media: “South Africa will forever hold a special place in our hearts. We are grateful for the years we were able to live as part of its culture and community.

“This move is about family and opportunities that lie ahead. We thank everyone for their understanding. We will miss you all.”

It’s not his first stint in the US. In 1983, he was invited to play American football for the Dallas Cowboys, and later the Dallas Harlequins, whom he led to the 1984 USA National Club Championships. He returned to South Africa shortly thereafter. 

During this time, the Springboks, like other South African sports teams, faced a ban under Apartheid. Naas would make 28 test appearances for the national team. 

Naas also played provincially for the Northern Transvaal (later named the Blue Bulls). During this period, he made 179 appearances for the club, leading them to nine Currie Cup victories. He also had a stint at the Italian club Rugby Rovigo.