So tonight is the big night and everyone is wondering who will who will be rubbing victory under the noses of their British and South African colleagues and friends at the office on Monday …
In his column for News24 Chris Roper gives 10 reasons why its better to be a Bok fan than a Pom fan:
10 reasons it’s better being a Bok fan than a Pom fan:
1. Bok fans aren’t surprised and grateful when their team wins matches, they’re surprised when their team loses.
2. Green and gold jerseys look cool on all kinds of South Africans, but white jerseys make England supporters look like the love children of unhealthy Zombies and dead fish.
3. We actually have 15 players in our team, rather than just Jonny Wilkinson and 14 old guys.
4. The South African sports media might be a self-serving, sycophantic bunch of freeloaders, but at least they aren’t staked out outside the team hotel hoping to get a picture of Monty’s wife tanning topless.
5. Our coach has got a chin (okay, more than one when he speaks Afrikaans).
6. The Boks’ traditional rivals actually come from different countries like New Zealand and Australia, as opposed to being English provinces, like Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
7. Fans of other teams hate the Boks because they’re hard bastards - they hate the English because they’re hypocrites who won’t admit they’re hard bastards.
8. Instead of wanky names like Jason, Jonny, Martin and Phil, our players have cool names like Os, Bakkies, Wikus, Akona, and, uh, Percy. (Dammit, trust Percy to ruin everything again).
9. Bok fans don’t mind being hated, because of all the practice we had during the apartheid years. English fans, on the other hand, can’t seem to understand why the rest of the world loathes them.
10. Win or lose on Saturday, Bok fans are flying back to a summer of hot babes and beaches. English fans are doomed to a winter of sleet and clogged M1.
11. (Everyone knows South Africans can’t count) Schalk Burger pushes the earth down when he does press ups. Martin Corry sticks his bum in the air.
October 24th, 2007 - 10:16 am
I am proudly South African, and the best team won on Saturday. However, after reading this article, I cant help but feel embarrassed by the things that have been said. South Africans have always had a reputation of being friendly, welcoming, patriotic and passionate. This article makes us look like whinging, arrogant, uneducated, (see point 6 “English Provinces”), down right childish (point 2) And as for manly names, please someone explain how “Os” has a manly ring to it. Come on guys, lets not turn into a nation that everyone hates! This article is appalling, and i hope it does not get into the hands of any English Fans.
October 29th, 2007 - 11:23 pm
I agree. I love the Boks, but I’ve also had a wonderful time living in England and have always found my host most gracious - even on losing! So here’s my response to Chris:
1) I’v watched at least two humiliating defeats against England at Twickenham in the past 5 years - I, for one, am still a Bok fan surprised when we win!
2) You’ve gotta be scratching the barrel if you’re going to fault white as a colour!
3) An SA mate playing club rugby in England told me they look better after their players, hence they have a longer career. Perhaps we also shoudn’t ditch our “old” (30-year-old) guys just because we know there’s a big pool of youngsters to draw from.
4) Joost and Amor on the front page of Huisgenoont … again and again and again … need I say more?
5) Ja, ja
6) If you think Scotland, Wales and Ireland are English provinces, you should review your geography …
7) Hard bastards? Hypocrites? I’ve lost you …. Hate? This is a game, bru
9) Dude, I’d like to think the world doesn’t hate us anymore … you ain’t helping … have you checked lately how many British charities raise funds for SA? Or where our greatest number of tourists come from?
10) Can’t argue about the weather … have to wonder about the Joburg traffic though …
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