Sport can turn the most stoic people into emotional wrecks.
This was evident on Saturday night as Bok supporters crowded GJ's pub in Wandsworth, whose South African owner Eugene Zietsman opened his doors to host BrandSA and hoards of supporters to watch the nail-biting quarterfinal match against Wales.
Shosholoza rang out as the ball was kicked out of touch to seal. Only one small fight broke out, prompting someone in the crowd to tell the fractious men: "Ladies this is rugby, not football." As everyone knows: rugby is a thug’s game played by gentlemen, while the reverse is true for football.
As the mild fracas ended, ecstatic Bok fans spoke of their relief at the outcome.
Bronwen Cousins, 42, "a Sandton barbie" who now living in Woking, said: "It took a little longer than it was supposed to. But it was amazing. I love kicking butt. Green and gold forever."
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Julian Summers, 41, a Durban boy who now living in LA, flew to the UK for the rugby. His face went through the entire spectrum of human emotions during the game (see pictures). He felt "absolute relief" at the outcome, he said. " We played badly, but we won. And that's a championship team. We can win the semifinal. And I think it's going to be against France.
"I was dying until Fourie (du Preez) scored." The game was "worth the money … (because of) the atmosphere."
Mark Hofert, 42, another Durbanite living in north London, said: "I did not realise it would be this close. I could not watch the last 20 minutes. That's how intense it was."
His prediction for the semifinal? "If we've got this far, why not (all the way)?"
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