Brendan Venter says no one deserves to captain the Springboks more than Warren Whiteley.
Whiteley will become the 58th Bok captain when he leads the team onto Loftus for the first Test against France on 10 June.
In his latest column for The Times, Venter said the appointment was ‘a masterstroke’ by Bok coach Allister Coetzee.
‘When you get the opportunity to work with someone in a training environment, you are able to witness the true value of a player,’ wrote the Bok defence coach. ‘From first-hand experience, Whiteley has an unbelievably positive attitude towards training and he has a deep understanding of the game.
‘With Elton Jantjies, Whiteley is a player who really impressed in the past two national training camps. He comes well-prepared, is organised and coachable.
‘Moreover, the Lions skipper, who has led his Super Rugby franchise more than 50 times, is an amazing person and impressive individual.
‘And, if you were to read the full story of the 29-year-old’s rugby journey, you would realise that Whiteley has had to fight to get where he is today – it did not come easily. He took the long road to become Springbok captain.
‘It could not have happened to a nicer guy and there is no one more deserving of the honour and responsibility of leading his nation.’
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
