Euphoria probably best sums what a nation feels when winning something like the rugby world cup. Crowds erupted in thunderous applause and ululation from the stadium in Zwide to the streets of Soweto. Coming a day after Moody’s served a negative investment grade credit rating, some positive news was indeed needed. The Springboks were brutally physical and doggedly clinical in overwhelming favourites England.

Rugby World Cup 1995

In 1995 I was newly inducted to rugby after trying to adopt it as part of the new democratic South Africa. I argued with my family and friends that these were our boys even though they were pretty much all white with racism far from being banished. It was a deep internal struggle, something I grappled with for a few years. Coming from an era of sports boycotts, especially of rugby which represented Apartheid to accepting them as fellow South Africans, was a chasm much too hard to cross for many of us. Some have still not crossed. I had to make a mental commitment to nationhood and drag my heart along kicking and screaming. Poignantly the next generation have absolutely little qualms of which team they support.

“Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination” – Nelson Mandela.

Alas, I watched the rugby world cup final alone not fully understanding the game. Friends and family were aghast. It was beautiful and I was hooked. The sheer intensity, the running lines, the positional kicking and the forceful tackling were imprinted in my memory. It was not just Joel Stransky’s last minute iconic drop kick or Nelson Mandela wearing the no 6 Springbok jersey handing the trophy to captain Francois Pienaar that was my abiding image. It was not even Jonah Lomu’s unstoppable try against England or the low flying 747 jet before the final. It was the diminutive James Small’s ferocious tackle against the gigantic Jonah Lomu.

https://www.theweek.co.uk/rugby-world-cup-2015/65283/rugby-world-cup-the-story-of-the-webb-ellis-cup-so-far

Rugby World Cup 2007

In 2007, I went fishing with my friends to Mazeppa Bay in the Eastern Cape. We booked a table at a local hotel to watch the rugby world cup final. My enduring picture of that world cup was JP Pietersen making a herculean try saving tackle in the quarterfinal against Fiji. I knew some of the basic rules and strategy but had no clue about forward plays or even defensive patterns. The Springboks outfoxed the English twice in that world cup while we had mixed results catching some tantalising musselcrackers and kabeljou.

Rugby World Cup 2019

So in 2019 with a busy work and cycling schedule I caught highlights or the odd game. New Zealand started as firm favourites, the Japanese brought a new excitement while all the other teams had yet to earn the right as contenders. When England pummeled New Zealand and South Africa laboured against Wales, a Springbok win looked impossible.

“Because South Africa has a lot of problems and we started talking about how rugby shouldn’t be something that puts pressure on you. It should be something that creates hope. But you can’t create hope just by talking about it, hope is not something you say in a beautiful tweet. Hope is when you play well. Hope is when people watch the game on a Saturday, and they have a BBQ, and they feel good about themselves, and no matter your political differences, or your belief differences, for those 80 minutes, you all agree. It is not our responsibility as players to create that hope, it is our privilege” – Rassie Erasmus.

But, the team under our finest ever coaching staff, led by the technically astute Rassie Erasmus, dared to dream. They engaged with preparation, passion, belief and a plan. They worked with what they had,  prepared against what they faced and peaked when it mattered. In hindsight, it seemed simple, obvious even fortunate. This underplays the hard slog, astute analysis and brazen determination. Bodies were thrown into battle on the field while humility shrouded the off field. The Springboks returned home with cup hoisted and gold medals in hand to an awaiting chanting diverse crowd.

“We have so many problems in our country, but a team like this, we come from different backgrounds, different races, but we came together with one goal and we wanted to achieve it” – Siya Kolisi.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/rwc-2019-japan/117268781/england-should-have-bent-rules-in-rugby-world-cup-final-says-ronan-ogara

Tendai’s passionate rendition of the national anthem powerfully set the scene. The Japanese kids accompanying each squad belting out foreign anthems with as much gusto was special. Japanese crowds singing Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika was heart-warming. Cheslin’s dancing steps, Lukhanyu’s sublime pass, Duane’s ferocious forward play, Pollard’s assured goal kicking and Faf’s up and unders are some of the many images that provide me with a smorgasbord of life long rugby world cup 2019 memories. But, long will our invincible scrumming against England be etched in our collective memories.

https://city-press.news24.com/Sport/mapimpi-kolbe-and-pollard-win-world-cup-for-sa-20191102

Sport has for ages been a metaphor for many aspects of living and working. The Springbok 2019 team have practically demonstrated that becoming world class is in our hands.