Braais, beers, brandies, and a magnificent rendition of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika.
Murray Kinsella Reports from Pretoria THE FIRST SPRINGBOKS fan we meet across the road from Loftus Versfeld is friendly, offering a firm handshake, but he has a word of warning.
Across the road from Loftus, Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool – the school known as ‘Affies’ that produced RG Snyman and several other Boks – has been transformed into a base for those braais and beers and loud Afrikaans music. This is the middle of winter but beautiful sunshine and heat of 21°C mean it feels like the best of the Irish summer.
Advertisement Going back across the road towards Loftus, a big sign declares it as the ‘house of champions,’ listing the Bulls’ honours in the Currie Cup, Vodacom Cup, and Super Rugby. There’s nothing about the Springboks’ record but they see Loftus as a bear pit in which they can test their visitors physically with the altitude and mentally with the ferocious atmosphere.
There are Irish jerseys dotted around the place, some of them worn by South Africans who have family roots in Ireland, but they’re overwhelmingly outnumbered by the green and gold of Springboks gear. The pre-match hype involves the ‘Elizabedi‘ kid being interviewed, while we also get another viewing of the Springboks’ ‘Unfinished Business’ video to whet the appetite. We’re introduced to some of South Africa’s world champions, including hugely popular MMA fighter Dricus du Plessis, who fights out of Pretoria. We also meet the winners of the World Sheep Shearing Championships.
So the place is rocking for the opening exchanges and the Boks’ brilliant start only adds to the celebratory atmosphere, but that dies down in the second half as Ireland hang in there and make it a true battle. These are nervy times for the home fans.
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