2023-10-28 14:00:53
At every traffic light in Johannesburg, street vendors have swapped their usual charging cables and windshield wiper rubbers for knock-off Springbok jerseys. The originals are now almost impossible to find. “We’ve been out of stock for almost a month”, explains the manager of a large sports store. Behind him, a small stand collects everything that is left: socks, some green and yellow clothing, underwear in the colors of the national flag.
As the South African rugby team progressed through the World Cup ranks, the enthusiasm of South Africans grew. In a country with still very deep inequalities, in the grip of an energy crisis and high unemployment, the Springboks’ journey brings balm to the heart.
This growing popularity of rugby also owes to the contrast with the national football team, which did not even qualify for previous World Cups and the last African Cup of Nations. Every Friday before the match, more and more South Africans dress up in green and gold, in the street or at work, for the traditional BokFriday.
“The world champion teams in 1995 and 2007 had not really managed to escape the image of white rugby”estimates Brenden Nel, specialist in this discipline. “In 2019, things have changed: with Siya Kolisi as captain, and players like Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe, all South Africans feel much better represented. The fact that they are in the final again reinforces this popularity, especially since if this same team wins two world championships in a row, it will become one of the greatest teams in the history of rugby. Everyone wants to be part of this enthusiasm. »
It doesn’t matter if the matches are broadcast on a pay channel, those who do not have access to it will find themselves en masse in pubs and fan zones of all types, even in shopping centers.
The All Blacks, historic rivals
At the Pirates Club sports bar, the temple of rugby in Johannesburg, we are busy adding benches and installing South African flags. Overwhelmed by its success in the semi-final, the bar had to put a limited number of entry tickets on sale for the final.
“It all went away in a few hours”assures the manager Non Welsford. “We are expecting 2,000 people! We also invited young people from a rugby club in the township of Alexandra. They don’t have electricity at home. Here, they will be able to see the match on the big screen! »
This final will be all the more followed as the All Blacks are the historic opponents of the Springboks. Each of the two nations could win their fourth trophy, a record. Their last final against each other dates back to 1995, during the famous World Cup encouraged by Nelson Mandela to unify the country at the end of apartheid.
Among South Africans, a few tens of thousands, mainly coloured (mixed race), will however support on Saturday… the All Blacks. A loyalty that dates back to apartheid. At the time, only whites could play in the South African team, depriving many rugby players of career chances.
“My brother and many other players could have played for the Springboks, but they were always prevented from doing so”, says Llewellyn Groepe, 69 years old. The retiree, rugby player and then coach, has supported the silver fern team for sixty years.
Mixture is evolving little by little
“A lot of people ask me why I still support the All Blacks when all this is over. But for us, the Springboks are still a symbol of apartheid. When the black national teams and coloured were assimilated into the Springboks, very few non-white players were actually selected. Even today, to succeed in rugby, you have to go through white people’s private schools, he denounces. I will support the Springboks when the odds are truly equal. »
If private schools continue to be the breeding ground for professional players, diversity is gradually evolving, and Siya Kolisi’s team is inspiring an entire generation. Llewellyn Groepe himself is very proud of one Springbok in particular: a certain Cheslin Kolbe, the arrow who intercepted Thomas Ramos’ shot in the quarter-final against France. A native of his town, whom he took to his training when he was little.
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Antoine Dupont, selected for the world player title
Small consolation prize for French supporters. The captain of the French XV, Antoine Dupont, is in the selection for the title of world player of the year, which will be awarded on Sunday October 29 in Paris at the end of the World Cup, announced Thursday October 26 World Rugby . The Blues scrum half, who has already obtained this distinction in 2021, will compete with Irish center Bundee Aki, South African second row Eben Etzebeth and New Zealand third row Ardie Savea. Two other French people were also selected in the different categories: the young winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey among the revelations of the year and Damian Penaud for the best try, thanks to the one scored against Ireland in the last Six Tournament. nations.
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