Springboks welcomed home

By Ken Borland

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - World Cup winners South Africa were greeted by thousands of supporters of all races at Johannesburg International Airport when they returned home from Paris on Tuesday.

A cheering, dancing crowd waited several hours for their heroes to arrive and Springboks captain John Smit, who led his side to a 15-6 win over England in Saturday's final, said the reception had surpassed all expectations.

"We expected it to be pretty busy at the airport but this has gone far beyond anything we imagined," Smit told a news conference.

"We're just happy that we have brought the trophy back where it belongs, with the people of South Africa."

Coach Jake White said the reception showed just how important the World Cup triumph was for the people of South Africa.

"When we won in 1995, I was a young schoolmaster and we all understand what a major, massive time that was for our country," he said.

"We've had this opportunity twice, some countries never have it. It's like the birth of your second child, we've been given another chance as a nation.

"The challenge is, whatever mistakes we've made between 1995 and 2007, we need to make sure we don't make them again.