BOK BOK BOKKE
World Rugby Cup Final tonight! It will be another epic battle between South Africa’s Springboks and New Zealand’s All Blacks — this time it’s to decide who wins the bragging rights as the FOURTH winner of the WRC.
The stakes couldn’t be higher — a World Rugby Cup Final against our biggest and most respected competitors. The Silver Ferns against the Springboks is a final made in Rugby heaven. Both teams have won the William Webb-Ellis trophy three times before. The ‘Boks won it last in 2019. I’m sure New Zealand is wanting to even that score, especially after being humiliated by the Boks already in this tournament in France.
John Smit, South African captain of the winning World Cup team in 2007 in France, in the self same stadium where today’s match will be played. Then we won against England 15:6 — a larger margin than last weekend’s of only one point.
Smit said: :
“It’s where you want to be tested. It’s brutal and yet whether you are in New Zealand or South Africa, 20 minutes after the game you are sat down having a beer together. It’s the respect of the history of the game.”
For South Africans it will mean something more than just winning a tournament. It will uplift a population beaten down by poverty, unemployment, crime, corrupt politicians and police who can’t do their job. Not to mention endless power cuts and load-shedding, proliferating potholes and broken infrastructure. The Green and Gold has become a rallying point for South Africans to gather together, unify and cheer on their ‘boys’.
Schools, businesses and clubs have practised and then filmed themselves singing Nkalakatha, (Boss Man or Top Dog) a hit by Mandoza from 20 years ago. These have been posted on social media for everyone to enjoy, for the Boks to take inspiration from all those who support them. S. Delport of the FB group South Africans Living in UK and Ireland stated:
“It’s not about rugby for us.
It’s about uniting a nation around something where SO many other things are trying to divide us.
It’s about the power of the story. Not about a scrum.
It’s about unity. Not about the bench split.
It’s about purpose, not a bunch of crazy-genius coaches.
It’s also not about winning at all costs. I 100% know that if we lose next week, it will be done with humility and grace.
The stakes for us are so much higher than a trophy or a sporting style.”
Race is irrelevant in this. Each member of the team is a hero to both adults and kids, irrespective of race, language or socio-economic status. The last few Fridays everyone has dressed in Springbok jerseys and colours: petrol jockey or CEO, boys and girls, ancient tannies and ooms, tatamakulus and gogos, all have been braaing, drinking beer, dancing and singing. Tonight they will gather in fan parks and around TVs to celebrate.
Nothing gets South Africans to bond like attacks from outside. We hunker down together and dig deep. The England team did a great job last weekend when they complained about something a Bok said deep in a scrum. After initial upset and rage, we got going with our jokes, memes and mocking stories. Advertisers have enjoyed creative liberty to use the RWC and the Springboks as inspiration. Chuckles and high fives, likes and shares on FB, IG and X (Twitter) when a particularly good one was created. Our sense of humour and ability to laugh at ourselves triumphed.
From the moment the teams appear out the tunnel, to national anthems, the blood tingling New Zealand Haka challenge and the kick off we will be fixated on watching the game. Screams, gasps and cheers, interspersed with Curses at the ref’s ‘stupidity’ and groans of despair will provide the sound track to our wildly beating hearts and taut strung nerves.
Whatever happens tonight — whether we win or lose — the team will fall on their knees to pray, will shake hands with each member of the opposing team, congratulating or condoling and perhaps swap jerseys. The team has brought so much light into the ‘kant’ry that optimism will prevail for a while.
If we win? Oh Joy! We will have celebrations everywhere. The Bokke will tour the country in open buses to hysterical acclaim by crowds massed wherever they go. The elation will extend this feeling of togetherness by several weeks. Schoolboys in the country will be fired with the desire to one day become a Springbok.
Motorists and taxi drivers will hoot, wave their flags and decorate their vehicles rather than raging at each other. Grannies and gogos will hug while Tatas and Ooms will bond over beer. For a short while bonhomie and friendship will link us together, transcending our differences and ‘beefs’.
In 1995, Nelson Mandela proudly wore the same No 6 Springbok jersey as the captain, Francois Pienaar and handed over the golden William Webb-Ellis cup to the winning side. He said so powerfully:
“Sports have the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sports can create hope, where there was once only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination. Sports is the game of lovers.”
We stand together with you Bokke.
POST-MATCH UPDATE: We WON: 12:11 It was an amazing, brutal slog. 🇿🇦💚💛🏆🍻🏈
YT video of Nkalakatha for the Rugby World Cup 2023.
