Springboks, Rugby World Champs, left SA to go defend their title in New Zealand on Thursday 1st September, 50 000 fans thronged Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton to give them a massive sendoff. Enjoy the pics...

All courtesy of news24 gallery

http://www.sport24.co.za/Galleries/Image/Rugby/RugbyWorldCup2011/Boks%20depart%20for%20RWC%202011


http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/eebcc108d0184a5794ce76ac33a724ae.jpg - Fans cheer on the Boks as they prepare to bid farewell before heading off to New Zealand. (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)


http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/a3679fe79dbc495882709ebb3dbf01c1.jpg - SA flags were out in full force. (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/a59207c7d119434f985aebccd3dee860.jpg - Fans scream for the Bokke. (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/861256596ea842bf987c6f9d2848bf2b.jpg - Fashion stakes were high. (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/044958ef400e4da0a87ca87b18599144.jpg

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/36ae7bb4271e405b8ea4568836cd8b3e.jpg

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/47e57a57d2064aa6a36b51d6363aa064.jpg - Sports minister Fikile Mbalula gets the crowd going. (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/ef3a06de68dd4981826fbb1e6350b7d6.jpg - Springbok captain John Smit addresses the crowd. (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)


http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/4fe756901d78459da2f9d4e37630b3cc.jpg - Schalk Burger, the friendly giant. (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)


http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/ae6e58263bb34aed9528d39d6af47167.jpg - Fans were out in full voice. (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/18d520c0a1bf4b338a9517d0ea027950.jpg - Crowd can't get enough of Bryan Habana. (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/7329fe6135904015a7846e4ab7b99de0.jpg - Chiliboy Ralepelle all smiles. (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)


http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/9867d323e41745f48cafac785eceac47.jpg - Captain John Smit mingles with the fans. (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/6ba4acc1ac2649439fd93908a533944d.jpg - Bismarck du Plessis departs the Gautrain. (Lee Warren - Gallo Images), Go Gautrain

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/d9411c3b93de42dfacbab03451b1f4dc.jpg - How did we ever live without the Gautrain?

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/8522138276a4423b9431528fb87014ec.jpg

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/b83230060d5d4482ad7fd4f20d6896d1.jpg

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/060f9e6f84004bf0b659a03f59d714bf.jpg - Any seat for the vice captain? (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)


http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/ff15f05c1d464dcf9cab7690282d9def.jpg

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/3c5f0159c980423bab0cbe8d3712676c.jpg - Jaque Fourie and Tendai Mtawarira (BEEAASSSSST) give the thumbs up to the Gautrain. (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/b5f3e771626b4d8f8efe77f573dc675d.jpg

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/36a11d05ef414e9c8fe139a074491c82.jpg - Fans were in abundance. (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)


http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/953da0a8f5dd4da48d1ba7d18e7069c9.jpg

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/1524/f85e8e501249476da1215e1a23893419.jpg - "I need to catch a plane" (Lee Warren - Gallo Images)

Good luck! Too bad that only 2 african teams are in the world cup.

^^Don't worry, what we lack in quantity we more than make up for it in quality, go boks....

What are their chances? Good to see the Beast is there its a pity Zimbos have to support individual players like Beast and Pocock for SA and Wallabies.Good luck to them.

It's finally starting to feel like it's World Cup season :) Stoked.