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In the wake of the Boks’ epic clash with the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday, 7 September, a powerful video was released showing a Saffa Oom rediscovering his love for the Springboks.

And that’s not just the Boks, but Rassie Erasmus and Siya Kolisi’s Springboks – the coach and the captain who have both contributed to elevating South African rugby right out of the mire of racial and social division.

During the years of Apartheid, several South Africans became All-Blacks supporters, choosing to support any team that wasn’t the Springboks. This was a form of protest against the nation’s political regime and has lasted to the present day for a lot of folks who still see SA as unhealed and unchanged from the past.

Cape Town, for one, has long been considered the “home away from home” for the All Blacks, particularly among the black and coloured communities who were previously excluded from playing for the national team during Apartheid.

However, the Springboks today represent a different South Africa and we all finally have a really good reason to unite.

As The Good Things Guy notes, the Springboks today embody the rainbow nation, inspiring unity and breeding the mentality of ‘Stronger Together’.

It was this sense of unity at local games that captivated former All-Blacks supporter Trevor Heinrich, who seeing South Africans from all walks of life unified and united,  stopped in his tracks and decided to make a change.

Trevor stood at the edge of a monumental decision, feeling the weight of history and heritage settle on his shoulders. It was time to become the South African he was always meant to be, no half-measures. With a deep breath, he retired his All-Blacks kit, folding it with a sense of finality, and reached for the iconic green and gold. The moment the Springbok jersey slid over his chest, he felt an electric surge of pride course through him. This wasn’t just a jersey; it was a declaration, a pledge to his country. With his heart swelling, he looked ahead to the future, ready to embrace it with a renewed sense of pride.

The video also coincides with the 30th anniversary of democracy this year, which is a call for ultimate transformation in sports and in the country.

In another social media post this week, Rassie empathised with South African supporters of the All Blacks and added that while the Springboks had worked hard to “win over” South Africans, it was still a work in progress.

Highly anticipated

Rassie Alles: SA All Black fans.#ForeverGreenForeverGold #Springboks pic.twitter.com/fA2rwTsgVG

— Springboks (@Springboks) September 4, 2024

Indeed, being part of the rainbow nation means accepting that some Saffas aren’t as patriotic and still want to support the All Blacks for example – that’s what makes the complexity of our country so beautiful.

Viva Siya and Rassie!

[source:goodthingsguy]