Opinion: 1News rugby reporter Andrew Saville is in South Africa as the All Blacks and Springboks do battle. He gives some thoughts after Dave Rennie's men earned a stunning victory over the hosts in Johannesburg.
Ellis Park is bucket list
If you’ve ever wanted one event around the world to add to your sporting bucket list, an All Blacks-Boks Test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg is a must, especially with both teams at or near their peak.
From the walk in, a wall of bottle green shirts, hats, flags to banter between the rival fans, pre, during and post match, the bastion of South African rugby is something to behold.
It’s often stated, but it’s true. The locals want to rip your head off pre-match, but then afterwards - win, lose or draw - they’re the first to thrust a cold one into your hand.
Yes Ellis Park is not a state of the art venue, but my word it has atmosphere. I’ve never heard a roar like when the jet flyover happened, I’ve never heard a roar like when the African warriors ran out before the teams. And I’ve never heard silence from 60,000 fans in South Africa for the haka. Even one or two dissenters were put in their place by respectful locals.
Denim lives here
I’ve never seen so much denim in one place. Levi's should open up pop up shop outside Ellis Park.
If there was ever a global shortage of denim we know where it is. Single, double and even triple denim. Faded blue is the colour of the Afrikaans people. And beards - not your hipster, ad agency type beard, but full-on high veld, ox pulling, meat eating beards.
Fitzy’s cameo
If there’s one enduring memory from the opening Test it’s All Blacks captain Ardie Savea putting his arm around former skipper Sean Fitzptrick and pulling him into the team in the during the anthems.
Fitzy was on the field after walking out with the new trophy and was holding the NZ flag for the anthems. I saw Fitzpatrick the morning after the Test and he was still buzzing.
He said he didn’t really know what he was supposed to do with the flag, before Savea’s big mitt pulled him in. He said he gripped Savea so hard back he was pinching skin around the midriff. He said he felt like running over and doing the haka after the anthems, but his 63-year-old body advised otherwise.
Compare that to the Springboks, who left their flag bearer, great number eight Gary Teichmann, hanging on his own like a shag on a rock.
Class from Ardie Savea
George’s Big Night
With the All Blacks scrum reeling, Ethan De Groot ill and with a banged-up knee, who better to call on than the former teacher’s aide George Bower.
The 34-year-old, originally from Taita in Wellington but who’s toiled hard for Otago and the Crusaders over the past 10 years, thoroughly deserved a massive pat on the back for coming on before half time and helping steady the set piece, along with Asafo Aumua and Fletcher Newell.
Bower is a lovely man, he always has a happy hello, with a huge smile and great laugh, not exactly your copy book prop. But when that heat went on, in the toughest stage in world rugby, Bower didn’t blink.
Nice One DC
Among rugby’s superstars in Joburg for the opening match, no-one grabbed as much attention as Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.
From corporate gigs to TV appearances before the game, both were earning their keep at Ellis Park, constantly stopped by fans.
But how’s this - Carter shouted his dad Nev over with him for his first visit to South Africa.
The King of Southbridge and his son were beaming walking in and around the stadium.
Neville was extremely proud of his boy when he played and you can see he still has that same pride, as one of the greats of the game is feted here in the Republic.
From helping run the Southbridge club in rural Canterbury to being wined and dined in the corporate world, staying in top class hotels and seeing his son still cut a swathe through South Africa. Well deserved Nev.
SHARE ME