WHAT’S next?
That’s the question on every fan’s lips following the win by the Springboks over New Zealand on Saturday evening.
It’s a fab-four for Boks who defended their Webb Ellis Cup by beating NZ 11-12 by a point again, the second in succession for the SA team, who are now champs for the fourth time.
NZ haka was nowhere near a Bok…
In all their qualifying games Boks won all their games by a point- France (29-28) and England (16-15).
Indeed tears, joy and delirium continue in mzansi as we all celebrate with the champs, a never easy feat, at all…
The picture that will forever be etched in our eyes, was when captain Siyamthanda Kolisi, had to run across the field to hug teammate Cheslin Kolbe, who was sent off for the final 10 minutes of the game after instinctively lashing out at the ball as it was flying past him, in what the TMO judges considered a deliberate deflection.
Kolbe, who has been magical on the field for the entire tournament, must have felt then that he had single-handedly lost the game for his team and couldn’t bear to watch; he spent most of the 10 minutes hiding his head under his shirt with tears streaming down.
As a leader of his pack- Kolisi sensed this, and his first admirable act on winning the game was to rush across the field to lift the head and relieve his stress and anxiety of his teammate. That’s leadership.
How could we forget the cut under the eye of Handre Pollard, blood coming down heavily?
The Boks continue to show SA is a country forged by a glue through sport, if only other sporting codes could follow the same example, so are our politicians?
Yes, those are players with different cultures, complex characters and are entitled to each opinions and beliefs; but when they don that green and yellow jersey, one thing and one thing ONLY is to fight for that emblem, national anthem, the flag and the pride of SA, finish & klaar!
Now to answer that question on what’s next for Boks- with festive around the corner- they should immerse in the win their families and enjoy that much needed cold-beer for as long as they could.
A deserving farewell to both coaches’ Jacques Nienaber and technical director Rassie Erasmus, whom both will be leaving Boks jersey to pursue other coaching roles. You’ve ran your race and WON it…realeboga. Baie dankie. Ndlela ntle…
The grand finale also brought sports heavyweights in the form of tennis stars and World Number1 Novac Djokovic, Roger Federer (Mom is SA), and rugby John Smit, Francois Piennaar and Brian Habana.
President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa (who was on hand to deliver the cup to Siya) has confirmed December 15, as a Public Holiday.
The team touched down at OR Tambo on Tuesday, with much fanfare as thousands of fans, including this reporter, came to share this glorious moment with our RWC.
Addressing a packed media conference at OR Tambo Int’l Airport on Tuesday, winning captain Siya Kolisi said the coaching staff knew how to align them as a group, dedicating the trophy to those people he said were experiencing tough circumstances, in Zwide in Gqeberha where he comes from, and Goodwood and Malmesbury in the Western Cape, and all other communities and townships.
“As a team want to be a reference point for our people, to show them how we can do it, and hopefully they’ll get hope from this team.
“We may not be able to change people’s circumstances, but we can give hope we can inspire people,” says Siya, who said the win is for the whole African continent.
On the changing of coaching staff, Siya with a smile, said both coaches played a very meaning role in “our lives” and wish both Rassie and Jacques all the best.
“They’re our fathers, more than coaches or mentors,” commented Siya, who also confirmed he’s still available for selection, be it as captain or not.
He was flanked by his childhood friend Eben Etzebeth, who was spotting a rather odd hair cut that was influenced by his ‘teammates’.
SA’s popular sport fan Botha Msila, who was taking snaps and signing fans autographs said he was relieved coming back home, as a ‘champ’.
Clad in his signature attire- quipped the team did not disappoint from the beginning as ‘we rallied behind it’, although there were instances some games he thought would “not go our way”.
“But I did enjoy myself with others, though I must point out, it is expensive that side, haaibo ngwaneso. A mere loaf of bread cost R60, just imagine. I’m happy to be back home,” he sighed with a relief, as fans clamoured for him.
The trophy tour will begin today in Pretoria.
On Thursday it will make a turn at the sponsors’ head office FNB in Jhb CBD, and wrap up at FNB Stadium by 4pm.
On Friday the team will be in Cape Town, Durban on Saturday and Eastern London on Sunday.
Top image (Reigning champs yet AGAIN. RWC Captain Siya Kolisi, coach Jacques Nienaber and sport minister Zizi Kodwa at the packed press brief on Tuesday at ORTI).
Halala Bokke, halala!
