Vincent Tshituka said he was in awe about being handed the captaincy for the SA ‘A’ team that will take the field against Zimbabwe at 12:00 (SA Time).
“It’s an honour of the highest order for me. I’ve been given a responsibility, so I want to do it to the best of my ability and make the honour count.”
He was also excited to see the young players in the squad have the opportunity to represent a senior national team and said: “It's definitely a golden era of youngsters. They are outstanding rugby players, and their ability to learn quickly has really impressed me, so I'm looking forward to playing alongside them.”
Tshituka, who will have the honour of taking the field alongside his brother Emmanuel, expected Zimbabwe, who qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, to put up a brave fight.
“We've done our analysis, and there are a lot of guys in their squad who will be highly motivated and will be playing for opportunities and contracts, so one can never underestimate them,” he said.
“We all know what it means to walk onto the field representing your country, and they'll definitely come out with that motivation, knowing they are going to the Rugby World Cup.
“There's a lot on the line for them, and they'll be fully committed. We also know a couple of the guys in their team, and what they’ll bring, so they’ll be well prepared.”