Go Bokke

I can clearly remember the 1995 Rugby World Cup, from the first game SA Australia, crammed into the room/hallway of Olympus Medical Res to that final, watching at my parents house in Pta and the absolute party atmosphere for what seemed like weeks afterwards. This RWC was a bit different, but I will remember it as fondly, not only for the result, but for the show of friendship I received.
No satellite TV and "random" internet connections meant checking the result online. Each time the Bokke won I got excited with few to share it with. But that all changed 2 weekends ago. When I heard our boys made it into the semi-final, I needed to find a place to watch. At first Sandra said "I'll go with you, but has, never seen a rugby match", then Frans and then the next one and the next. By Sunday 14th the Springbok supporters has grown to 9. A quick lesson (white board and all) touched on the basics - 15 a side, run and kick forward, pass back, try to score a try - 5point, then convert, penalties and drop goals, line out and scrum. Couldn't help but thing of that old Casper de Vries sketch with "Raggabusch". But, off we went to Alex's a local sports bar and restaurant in Aberdeen - overlooking the sea, not to bad food, expensive drinks.

So the semi-finals went well, and then came the final. The place was absolutely packed. More expats that I've ever seen or though would ever get together in Sierra Leone. Lots of English, but everyone else seemed to root for SA (no big surprise there). Few SA flags flew and a faint "shozaloza" was heard under the "Swing low...", but we had the last say. Lets face it, the game was not the best ever, the end-result great and I think deserved, but it will sure be a day I remember.