How to win our hearts
I’m sure if the Springboks were a political party they’d get the majority vote. As over-the-top a comment this might seem, few South African rugby fans would likely disagree.
The adulation sweeping the country after the Boks’ performance against France in the World Cup quarterfinals on Sunday night demonstrates sport’s ability to unite a nation.
Most South Africans have little to crow about in light of the social, economic and political challenges facing them on a day-to-day basis, but all seems to be forgotten when the Boks vanquish their opponents.
There is no quibbling that the Boks are a uniting and inspirational force for good.
Springbok coach and director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, recognised that potential when stepping into the coaching breach and drove the point home with a few inspired selections that make the Boks a more representative and transformed side today.
Their legion of fans are in sheer ecstasy judging by the reaction on social media.
“The [Boks] found a way” bellowed commentator Matthew Pearce after Ben O’Keeffe blew the final whistle at Stade de France to send the South Africans into the semifinals against England this coming Saturday night. And found a way they did.
France’s attacking brand of rugby and firepower up front had them leading the possession stakes throughout, but even this onslaught proved no match for a determined Bok team.
The Boks, under the leadership of Siya Kolisi, who has become something of an iconic figure in sport, are nothing short of inspirational for “rugby-mad” South Africans.
Kolisi has developed the skill of handling press conferences with purpose, poise and diplomacy. Always giving credit to the opposition, which has won him a place in the hearts of even the most ardent opposition fans, he said they knew a French team would be tough to beat with 15 men on the field, “so imagine with 14 men”.
Then he turned to praising his own team, saying with lock Eben Etzebeth off the park for a further eight minutes after the half-time break, the team “had to fight for each other”.
Etzebeth, who was yellow-carded for dangerous play and sent to the sidelines for 10 minutes must be applauded for coming back with a vengeance with a crucial try in the second half that put the Boks ahead.
The sight of pocket rocket Cheslin Kolbe successfully charging down a conversion by France’s Thomas Ramos early in the first half had South Africans in a frenzy.
Other high points of the match will be forever etched into fans’ memory bank, such as bustling flank Kwagga Smith’s “steal” to hand flyhalf Handre Pollard the penalty he converted from inside his own half. Not to mention centre Jessie Kriel s bloodied face showing the scars of battle which earned him a hug and kiss from’captain Kolisi in the dressing-room after the match, as shown in a video that has gone viral.
With rugby at the centre of world sporting attention, the Cricket World Cup on the go in India seems to have gone under the radar.
In a coincidental twist, the Boks and Proteas national cricket team will both be doing battle with old foes England on Saturday.
The Proteas’ round robin encounter with England can’t be underscored because they are attempting to win the coveted Cricket World Cup for the first time in their history. All the best to both national teams.