There is a special bond between the Cape Town Community and the All Blacks that dates back to Apartheid. Back in the 1970s and 1980s some players of the All Blacks team stayed in the homes of Coloured families whilst on tour in South Africa. Considering at that time there were segregation policies that restricted non-white players from where they could stay, it was a bold message against racial segregation. The All Blacks Team was inclusive as it featured Maori and Pacific Island players, therefore became a symbol of resistance against apartheid for many in the Coloured community. The traditional Maori war dance, the Haka performed before matches also became a symbol of cultural connection between the Cape Town Community and the All Blacks.
Sister Bethina, The Plane and The Haka
The Haka is a symbol of pride, a war cry for the All Blacks executed before matches to instill fear into the opposition. Last Saturday before the match at the iconic Ellis Park Stadium, whilst the All Blacks were in bullish mode executing the Haka, the Emirates Airline A380 flew overhead, as if that was not enough the stadium DJ immediately played Sister Bethina from the Stadium speakers. This moment surely ruffled feathers in the All Blacks Camp. Whenever South Africa has Test matches with New Zealand they ensure they take them to Ellis Park with the teams having met there more than 15 times since the Rugby World Cup final in 1995. This brings so much nostalgia as this is the venue where the Springboks won their 1st World Cup. The script is played over and over again, the plane just has to fly over Ellis Park but playing Sister Bethina in the background is a first.
The Match at the DHL Cape Town Stadium
With the All Blacks having lost 31-27 at Ellis Park last weekend, where the Springboks had to come from a 10-point deficit to score 2 tries in the last 15 mins. This match was as close as it got to their previous match up at last year’s World Cup final where the Springboks won by a single point. The All Blacks surely would love to get one over the Springboks this time around in Cape Town. The Springboks are building for the future integrating the old guard of the likes of Bongi Bonambi, Siya Kolisi, Etzebeth with fresh talent such as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who contributed 16 points at Ellis Park. Coach Rassie Erasmus has made 7 changes to the team to face the All Blacks which includes 19 World Cup winners with Handre Pollard and Willie Le Roux both set to start. The All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has made four changes to the team that played at Ellis Park with two of those changes injury enforced, Cortez Ratima gains his second Test start at scrumhalf, with wings Mark Tele’a and Sevu Reece forming a new-look back three with fullback Will Jordan. Wallace Sititi is the other change set to play his second Test at blindside flanker in place of Blackadder who has a tight hamstring which rules him out of selection. This World Championship match will be an interesting match up.
Springbok team:
Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Handre Pollard, Grant Williams, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche. Bench: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Kwagga Smith, Elrigh Louw, Jaden Hendrikse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Lukhanyo Am
All Blacks team (Test caps in brackets): Tamaiti Williams (10), Codie Taylor (90), Tyrel Lomax (37) , Scott Barrett (captain, 73) , Tupou Vaa’i (31), Wallace Sititi (2), Sam Cane (97), Ardie Savea (87, vice-captain), Cortez Ratima (5), Damian McKenzie (53), Mark Tele’a (14), Jordie Barrett (63, vice-captain), Rieko Ioane (74), Sevu Reece (27), Will Jordan (34)Replacements: Asafo Aumua (12), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (62), Fletcher Newell (19), Sam Darry (4), Luke Jacobson (21), TJ Perenara (85), Anton Lienert-Brown (76), Beauden Barrett (129)
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