Oh, Bokke, our Bokke. We are Stronger Together!
Pretoria, South Africa – Matt Proudfoot, Springbok forwards coach, recently explained to curious international media the place that the team occupies in the psyche of many South Africans.
“South Africa as a country has got a lot of challenges, but we are resilient people. We understand what it means to live at the tip of Africa. It is a country with a hell of a lot of pride in their national identity.
I suppose the history and what ’95 (the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup victory) meant for the country created a new opportunity for people in South Africa.
The Springbok is the tool people use as a symbol of hope, a symbol of opportunity. It shows, if you look at the stories of the players in the team, what can be achieved with hard work. I suppose it is wrapped up in the psychology of a lot of people. South Africans love the game. We grow up with it in the schools, young boys play it, and it is a highly supported activity back home. From a young age, you get indoctrinated into the game, and there is no better symbol.
When you see a player become a Springbok, they change, and they pass it on to the country. There is a real connection between the Springbok player, and what it means to be a Springbok, and the supporter back home.”
The Springboks have been buoyed by the excitement that their progress to the final has created in South Africa.
Celebrating fans have been sharing messages of support since the start of the 2019 Rugby World Cup and now, a dedicated Springboks fan and passionate South African, has written and shared a beautiful letter to the Springboks and the rest of the country ahead of the final on Saturday.
Oh, Bokke, our Bokke. We are Stronger Together!
Read Marcel Erasmus’ full piece below:
Our team.
Our team has Mapimpi who walked 10km to school and lost his family.
Our team has Lood De Jager, who always smiles even though the pressure is on.
Our team has Eben Etzebeth, who is made of fire and stone.
Our team has a Beast who apologises for dangerous tackles and carries that body on an irregular heartbeat.
Our team has Lukhanyo Am who came from the bulldogs and acts like one, defending every inch.
Our team has Bongi Mbonambi who has overcome life-threatening illness and everyone in front of him.
Our team has the ever-smiling, fast-footed Schalk Brits.
Our team has the best Ginger Ninja to step into the front row, Steven Kitshoff.
Our team has Vincent Koch, who could move mountains with just a look.
Our team has its own Viking, the long-haired RG Snyman.
Our team has Herschel Jantjies who comes from Kylemore and debuted like he was born for glory.
Our team has the fast and fearless Faf De Klerk, who is the embodiment of the Jack Russel tenacity.
Our team has the son of Spiere, Pieter-Steph Du Toit and gave some people PTSD.
Our team has the sniper of penalties and body on the line fly half, Handre Pollard.
Our team has the polarising but almost-impossible-to-tackle Damian De Allende.
Our team has the comeback kid and bringer of razzle-dazzle, Willie Le Roux.
Our team has the veteran who tasted glory, Frans Steyn.
Our team has a mach three dragon-slaying-disco-dancer, Cheslin Kolbe.
Our team has a blitz from Baberton, Sbu Nkosi.
Our team has an Avenger, the god of thunder, Duane Vermeulen.
Our team has the kid from Knysna who had to play to get a scholarship to have a chance, Warrick Gelant.
Our team has Malcolm Marx, who had just his mom carrying him through.
Our team has our Captain, the man who did not have a TV 12 years ago, who asked Schalk Burger (when he was blond, not bald) for an autograph, The Bear, Siya Kolisi.
And behind OUR team is staff and coaches and I am 150 % behind them.
Because they are Stronger Together than anyone else.
And if we back them,
Even more so!
by 