By Lucky Vince Pienaar
When the Springboks run onto the field at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, the inspirational and beloved green and gold Springbok jersey will not be seen.
Instead, the Springboks will be in white with lime green trim, suspiciously like the colours used by Checkers for their Sixty60 brand. No wonder people are calling the outfit the 60/60 jersey.
All rugby teams, both locally and internationally, have two jerseys. It is a simple rule to avoid confusion when teams with similar colours, such as the green of both the Springboks and Ireland, are used.
Traditionally, visiting teams play in their “away” colours, but it has become something of a tradition that Ireland wear their regular jersey in South Africa.
It is apparently a courtesy that the visiting team is given the choice, and Ireland choose to play in their own colours.
But before the Bok fans get too unhappy, can anybody remember that zig-zag pattern the Boks were forced to play in not so long ago? By comparison, the plain white jersey with the light green (or “teal”) piping is not so bad, is it?
While it may look like it, Checkers doesn’t sponsor the Springboks.
The colour of the Springboks’ teal kit matched that of Checkers 60/60, providing an unexpected connection and free advertising for the brand.
Fortunately, there is little or no evidence that the players give a flying damn about the colour of the jersey. The colour will not prevent them from playing Springbok rugby!
Pictured above: The last time the Springboks played Ireland.
Source: Springboks/X
