Tag: Springboks
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Here’s to the game that made me believe, once again, in hope and heroes
When the view from your garden is of the H-shaped posts that beckon the bouncing ball, you begin to see just how rugby can shape a nation, and turn its dreams into cause for reflection and celebration
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How the Boks cope with the nerve-wracking weirdness of final week
As the seconds tick by to the kick-off of the big game in rugby’s ultimate contest, with the trophy tantalisingly within grasp, being a Bok means training, planning, and a quiet quest for distraction
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The veteran Bok who could hold the key to victory in Yokohama
When the Boks go into battle against the All Blacks in their opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, all eyes will be on a rugged warrior who runs fast and plays hard in the early autumn of his career
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How rugby’s new dawn made me happy to be South African all over again
Rugbyphoria! It’s that exquisite feeling of joy and triumph that leaves you with a glow, when the Bokke and the BitzBokke go out of their way to prove the healing, uniting power of sport.
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Siya Kolisi, a captain for Change
Though much was changing in his life, thanks to all the hard work he was putting in on and off the field, he never changed who he was.
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How Momma Bok looks after her herd away from home
“She’s really the mom of the team. I can’t imagine the Springbok team without her,” says former skipper Jean de Villiers. “She’s basically the reason that the players are always happy. The Springboks without Annelee would just not be the same.”
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What Rassie Erasmus can learn from the man who built a forest
Rassie Erasmus could learn a thing or two about patience, stamina, and endurance from Jadav Payeng.
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When the Holy Grail becomes the poisoned chalice
I’ve seen Springbok coaches smile. I’ve seen them wince, scowl, face palm, snarl, scream and shout, but I have also seen them happy.
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When the boks chase the bucks
Yes it’s about earning money, but in a team sport like rugby, it’s also about understanding – and respecting – the rich culture and traditions. Today’s youngsters could do with a few years of mentoring before taking up that all important contract.
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Why the Rugby World Cup Always Ends in Tears
Ten years ago, in the stands of the Stade de France, I watched tears well in the eyes of a friend, a journalist by trade but a South African by soul. The Springboks had just beaten England.