Sean Maitland looks on as Fourie du Preez scores.
The caricature of a raging bull was a dead giveaway. This was not a message of goodwill.
Around Orlando Stadium the blue-clad Bulls fans held-up the placards with the words Gaffer Hulle! Â below a picture of an angry beast. Other signs stated “Soweto Loves Bulls”. At the end of their Super 14 semifinal the Crusaders knew this was not just a gimmick.
All week the Crusaders had talked up their chances of beating the Bulls in Soweto, brushing aside fears they would be weary from the heavy travel schedule, playing at altitude and in front of a vociferous South African crowd.
They were confident, but a high error-rate – an inability to control the high ball or make vital passes stick, meant it all turned to porridge.
Having rested 14 of their players from the previous weekend’s match against the Stormers, the Bulls could have been vulnerable. It wasn’t to be.
They made a dream start by absorbing the Crusaders early attacks, turning over the ball and then sending monster No8 Pierre Spies over for the opening try.
Forced out of their home ground in Pretoria, the Bulls relocated their semi and rugby into the unknown – the exotic location of Soweto, a sprawling township on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
For many Bulls supporters, the white Afrikaners from Pretoria, this was their first visit to the home of millions of South Africa’s black population.
So many things could have ruined this occasion, not least the nasty traffic snarl that prevented many fans from getting inside the stadium until halftime and later. Yet it was surely viewed as a success.
Mention Soweto and images of crime and poverty jump to mind for South Africans and tourists alike, but the sport of rugby did its bit in breaking down some of those perceptions.
For the majority of the white Afrikaners who travelled into the township to watch “their” game in Orlando, this rare foray opened up a new world.
Although the stadium was not quite a sell-out, the crowd still partied like they were back at Fort Loftus. A hospitality area had been constructed behind the ground, smoke from the braais billowed out, beers were guzzled at a frightening pace and a band dusted off a scary number of country and western numbers.
As the cars snaked their way towards the ground, some of the black population shouted “welcome” and waved Bulls flags.
Adding to the occasion, before kick-off a squadron of planes swooped over the stadium amid loud cheers and the ubiquitous hoots of the supporters’ horns helped create rugby history in Soweto yesterday morning.
After the bitter taste of their 39-24 defeat has faded, the Crusaders should consider themselves fortunate to have been a part of it.
Courtesy of stuff.co.nz
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