“This is history in the making. We can truly achieve much if we stand together. This victory is for all of us. We are so proud of the Bokke.”
JUBILATION filled the air in Kimberley on Saturday after the Springboks defeated England in the Rugby World Cup final in Japan.
South Africa produced a dominant performance to beat England 32-12. Bok supporters were glued to their screens on Saturday morning . . . with more than a few biting their nails.
Others, however, became extremely optimistic following the start of the match, saying that a victory was on the cards for South Africa after Handre Pollard slotted the Bok’s first three points.
“We are going to win the cup. The boys are fit and ready for this match. They are dominating the game and are putting pressure on the English. We will take this cup,” they said.
Others meanwhile started to lose hope when England later followed suit and also converted a penalty.
“The Springboks better be very careful. They started off nicely but they should not relax,” they said.
The Springbok supporters renewed their belief and threw their weight behind the boys in green and gold following a passage of play where England failed to score after being just centimetres from the Bok’s tryline.
“The Boks have got this game in the bag. If the English did not manage to score when they were just an inch away from the line, there is no way the Boks will let them break through during the rest of the game. That was beautiful defending and the entire team worked together as one unit. Each player was playing with everything they had and were successful in stopping the opposition. Our defence was solid.”
With the Boks leading 12-6 at half-time, belief started to grow amongst SA supporters. “It is not over yet, but it will only get better,” they said.
They could not believe their eyes when Makazole Mapimpi managed to score a try. “This is too beautiful to watch. We have made the gap wider. Victory is certainly ours,” they cried.
The joy spilled over when Cheslin Kolbe exploded down the right wing and “danced” his way over the tryline.
“Victory is ours and the Bokke are on fire. England stood no chance after Mapimpi’s try but this try is adding salt to their wounds,” they joked.
Everyone started cheering and some eyes welled with tears when they saw broadcast images of “South Africa” being engraved on the Webb Ellis Cup some minutes before the final whistle.
“We did it . . . go Bokke. The cup is ours,” they cheered and sang. “This was such a beautiful game. The Bokke did us so proud. It feels wonderful to be a South African.
“This is history in the making. We can truly achieve much if we stand together. This victory is for all of us. We are so proud of the Bokke.”
The parliamentary portfolio committee on Sport, Arts and Culture also praised the Springboks for their remarkable performance.
The chairperson of the committee, Beauty Dlulane, said that the team demonstrated the resilience which has come to characterise the Boks over the years.
“That a black captain in Siya Kolisi hoisted the Webb Ellis Cup was an inspiration that will have a long-lasting influence on South African children. We need to go back and start building for France 2023. The task of a new coach should be to make the team representative of the South African nation while positively impacting on the minds of many South Africans,” said Dlulane.
