Good questions all of those. Will give you my take on them one-by-one.
Other Bok fans here may have their own views.
@stodders said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
@Billy-Webb tell me, whatโs with the rabid pursuit of SA fans to nominate the current Bok team as the greatest ever and Kolisi as the greatest captain ever so soon after a World Cup win?
I am as bemused by this as you and many others.
My suspicion is that it is a group of somewhat over-excited fans who are pursuing the narrative on social media probably as backlash against the "ugly rugby", you were lucky, you borderline cheat narrative that is also present.
In fairness, no-one in my circle even mentions it - being the best ever. Maybe I just have a more balanced group.
Kolisi will be up there with the most revered SA captains, that's for sure. Greatest captain in rugby ever? I am not sure how one even starts to try and measure that.
Personally, they arenโt the best Bok team Iโve seen. That would be the 2007-2009 vintage. PSDT was awesome in the final, but even heโd struggle to dislodge Juan Smith from the 7 jersey.
Again - achieving the back-to-back success is driving this narrative.
For my money 2007-2009 and the 2019 vintage stack up well too.
For what it's worth, I would try and find a way to play both Juan Smith and PSDT if ever it were possible.
Back to back is an insane achievement, but the thirst for validation and acknowledgment from Bok fans feels like something else?
Did those years of underachievement leave Bok fans with thin skins? Is it a reaction to foreign media and team coaches who poured scorn on their playing style? Is the outpouring of emotion sheer relief at winning as it deflects away the issues going on in SA right now and shows SA are actually world leading in something?
Yes. To all of the above imo.
It is an overreaction to having something to be proud of, coached and led by people who do it not just for themselves.
The Bok team and coaches are unabashedly proud of how they play. So they should. They won 2 world cups. The quest to be seen as the best comes primarily from the SA media and fans.
Intrigued to get a SA perspective from you and any other Bok fans on here.
So broadly:
The fans are proud.
They have something to treasure in a country where bad news sometimes feels like the dominant theme.
It is nice to give the finger to what is perceived as constant negativity and carping from foreign rugby media.
Some are just a bit too overexcited to have perspective right now.
But bless them for their enthusiasm.