There are few rivalries in sport bigger than South Africa and New Zealand fondly known as the Springboks and the All Blacks when it comes to a sport as brutal as rugby.
To put things into perspective, this rivalry is as pure as the Ashes in cricket or to make it more pertinent to our subcontinent readers, an India – Pakistan feud.
The two southern hemisphere giants have been tearing each other apart for over a century now with New Zealand gaining the upper hand in head-to-head contests as of September last year winning 62 to South Africa’s 39 and 4 draws in 105 meetings.
Well, things have changed in the last one year and the Bokke have soared with good reason as they decimated the All Blacks 18-12 last night in the Mother City enroute to their fourth consecutive hurrah over their southern hemisphere rivals since 1949.
Almost 75 years to date. Let this sink in!
The back-to-back World Cup winners under the astute leadership of inspirational captain Siya Kolisi not only won their fourth consecutive match against New Zealand last night but were also instrumental in bringing the Freedom Cup back to South Africa after an astonishing gap of 15 long years dating back to 2009.
Yes, such has been the wait to lay hands on this coveted trophy that defines the contests between these two rugby powerhouses.
So as the 60 million strong Mzansi celebrate this achievement, lets dig into how this contest panned out at the iconic DHL stadium in CapeTown last evening.
New Zealand began strong in the first half
The All Blacks heading into this second tie of the Rugby Championship against the Springboks were reeling from their defeat last weekend at the Emirates Park in Johannesburg.
The Freedom Cup was on the line and they had to start strong to harbour any hopes of defending their pride which was on the line for the first time in 15 years.
Well, they did exactly that as their attacking line was all over South Africa’s defence and as a result they won three penalties with Damian McKenzie, the All Blacks fly half making no mistake in converting them.
South Africa got one back of their own courtesy Handre Pollard as the score stood at 9-3 in favour of New Zealand before the referee blew the half time whistle.
Captain Charismatic in Siya Kolisi had other plans
As the second half began, South Africa showed more intent as they trailed New Zealand by six points and were soon awarded a try in the 49 th minute as captain Kolisi in a determined effort got the ball over the line enroute to reaching his 12 th career try.
Handre Pollard made no mistake in converting this try and in a jiffy, South Africa led New Zealand 10-9.
As time went on, the match was on a knife edge and both teams did not give an inch until South Africa created another opening this time through young fly half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who converted a penalty to put the Springboks 13-9 ahead enroute to reaching the 50-point mark in test rugby.
The All Blacks, not the ones to surrender easily continued to be in the fight and were rewarded with a penalty of their own as they brought the score within a difference of one point at 13-12 in South Africa’s favour.
With the game reaching the final quarter something had to give and the spectators etched South Africa on; to increase the lead and the Boks did not disappoint with Malcom Marx scoring a second try for the home team to put them 18-12 in front.
The match at the time seemed an affair as tense as South African politics. As the clock rolled on, the Boks defended with all their might to deny New Zealand a chance to come back and soon time hit the final 80 to seal yet another victory for South Africa.
The crowd was overjoyed and so was I.
Coach Rassie Erasmus has truly turned the tide for South Africa
There are few coaches in sport as astute and focussed as Rassie Erasmus is and credit has to be given to him with the way he has turned around the fortunes of the Springboks since he took charge in 2018.
His iconic words on pressure being what an average South African faces to find a job and put food on the table still reverberate in my head as the motivation for this team to consider playing for their country a privilege rather than pressure which unquestionably has showed in their performance.
With two consecutive World Cup triumphs, the Freedom Cup finally coming home and the Rugby Championship all but won, this Springbok team is undoubtedly uniting a nation hungry for inspiration and success.
May this tide of inspiration and contentment continue. Dankie, my dear Bokke!