The OR Tambo international airport is buzzing like a bumble bee as the Springboks finally landed back on home soil with the prestigious Webb Ellis trophy on Tuesday morning.
South Africa made their highly anticipated return home from France following their historic run at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Paris.
Narrow 12-11 victory
The Springboks produced a narrow 12-11 victory over their greatest rivals New Zealand at the Stade de France on Saturday night.
No amount of rain was going to put a damper on the spirits of staunch Boks supporters and other patriots who gathered to witness the arrival of history making South African heroes.
Boks captain Kolisi led his troops as they entered the arrivals terminal, where they received a rousing welcome from the thousands who had waited patiently at the airport from as early as 6am.
The chants of “Siya, Siya, Siya, Siya” reverberated around the airport as the crowd hailed captain Siya Kolisi and his troops.
An emotional director of SA Rugby’s director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, could not hold back his tears as the rainbow nation expressed their gratitude for his stellar job alongside coach Jacques Nienaber and the rest of his technical team.
Overall, it was a bruising tournament for the Springboks – from the early matches against the likes of Scotland and Ireland in the group stages to the knockout stages.
Rugby brains for bruising tournament
That the SA team won their quarterfinal, semifinal and final matches via a single point is testimony of the difficult conditions in France.
And the wet weather did not make things any lighter for the Boks.
It was the technical acumen of the South African coaching team of Jacques Nienaber, Erasmus and their support team who plotted for victory in every match.
However, at the end of the long tournament, it was all in the hands of the Springboks to deliver the goods.
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