The All Blacks made an intriguing decision to host some of their training sessions in Cape Town last week at the Athlone Stadium.
It is mainly a soccer venue these days, but it was also the home of Saru (SA Rugby Union) non-racial rugby during the 1970s and 1980s.
So, the rich rugby heritage was extended by the All Blacks opting to train there for last Saturday’s Rugby Championship showdown with the Springboks at the Cape Town Stadium.
The decision to practise there wasn’t publicised, and none of the few fans present were allowed inside – but the Kiwis received a warm welcome at the Cape Town International Airport, and had lots of supporters looking for photos and autographs at their Newlands hotel.
But Siya Kolisi’s Springboks have made great strides to change the allegiances of those South Africans back to the world champions.
As if winning two World Cups in a row wasn’t enough, they beat the All Blacks in Johannesburg and Cape Town over the last fortnight to clinch the Freedom Cup, and be well on their way to winning the Rugby Championship title too.
Kolisi, coach Rassie Erasmus and others spoke before and after the 18-12 triumph in Cape Town about how people have a right to support which team they wish to, but that they hope to win over some of those SA All Black fans back to the Boks. Kolisi also spoke passionately about the way in which Erasmus has brought about true transformation in the Bok team.
“People say transformation is putting black players in the team. But for us, they put in those that are good enough to be there – but then they up-skill us,” the loose forward said.
“When I became captain, Rassie knows that I would struggle at the beginning, because I was shy. It was a big thing, and I was scared.
“Now we (black players) are well equipped and confident that we can go out there and play. The guy next to you trusts you. He knows you are not here just because of your skin colour.”
It was a thrilling occasion at the Cape Town Stadium last weekend, and after the Boks recorded their fourth victory in a row over NZ – the first time since 1949 – let’s hope that those “Cape Crusaders” fans will don green-and-gold jerseys in future.
Cape Times