World Cup Diary: Lucky mascot Mandela visits Boks

The Springboks, who will watch England's opening match against the United States in Lens tomorrow, launch their bid against Samoa on Sunday fortified by a pep talk at their hotel yesterday from Nelson Mandela.

The visit marked the former South Africa president's first contact with the team since presenting the World Cup to Francois Pienaar after the 1995 final against New Zealand in Johannesburg.

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The players are considering flying him back for one of their major matches, such as when they face England at the Stade de France in Paris a week today.

Head coach Jake White said: "It is a real omen to see Mr Mandela. He has been to four Tests and he has never seen us lose.

"Who knows, as the tournament progresses, I'm sure that a nice personal gift from the team would be to fly him back to one of our big games."

South Africa captain John Smit will make his long-awaited return to action against Samoa.

The 29-year-old hooker has not played since injuring his hamstring against Australia in June.

In the absence of the injured Pierre Spies, Danie Rossouw is at No 8 and Butch James starts at fly half.

SOUTH AFRICA (v Samoa): Montgomery; Pietersen, Fourie, De Villiers, Habana; James, Du Preez; Du Randt, Smit, Van der Linde, Bakkies Botha, Matfield, Burger, Smith, Rossouw. Subs: Du Plessis, BJ Botha, Muller, Van den Berg, Januarie, Pretorius, Steyn.

Scotland back Andrew Henderson has been ruled out of his country's opening match against Portugal in Saint-Etienne on Sunday because of a dead leg suffered during the 27-3 defeat by South Africa last month.

However, No 8 Dave Callam has recovered from a face injury. The team will be announced today.