Unsung Springbok Heroes Chased The Rugby World Cup Sun

There were a number of unsung heroes who came to light in the Springboks Rugby World Cup final triumph, the fifth and final episode of the documentary aired on M-Net on Sunday revealed.

The Boks faced an enormous task in plotting the downfall of the All Blacks, considering they had squeaked through the quarter-finals and semi-finals with one-point victories over France and England.

Their first obstacle was dealing with hooker Bongi Mbonambis disciplinary hearing for an alleged racial slur against England flank Tom Curry in the semi-final the infamous comment.

Bok boss Rassie Erasmus said during the final episode of that he trusted Mbonambi with his life. The first-choice No 2 sustained a knee injury after just three minutes, courtesy of a cheap-shot ruck clean-out by All Black flank Shannon Frizell and that led to another unsung hero, flank Deon Fourie, having to play 77 minutes at hooker.

The Stormers stalwart gave it his all, even though he wasnt perfect in every respect, and was the captain when the final whistle blew.

💚 I love you, we did it! Cheslin Kolbe on what Siya Kolisi said to him after the Rugby World Cup final. 💻 Stream all five episodes of #ChasingTheSun2 on Catch Up. pic.twitter.com/b6CYE8Yqba

Before that, scrumhalf Cobus Reinach displayed great maturity when he was axed for Faf de Klerk for the final despite producing a solid display in the semi-final. Reinach was understandably upset but quickly said: I was selected to serve the team that week. He and Manie Libbok had to portray Aaron Smith and Richie Mounga in training.

Also before the game, head coach Jacques Nienaber gave an inspirational speech to the players, reminding them of how the critics had made the All Blacks the favourites. Nienaber is often seen as Erasmuss lieutenant, but in this instance, he led from the front.

Just a hurdle ... youre just a fg hurdle. Just something that they have to hop over. Its just a little hop, skip and a jump over, Nienaber said, with anger visible in his eyes through his set of clear Jurgen Klopp glasses.

They actually didnt expect you to even go past the fg quarter-finals in 2019. But thats the beauty of this team. They can script anything they want at the end of the day, we decide what the movie will look like. And I think that fg breaks them.

You guys have the ability to go, Fk you, we will write our own story. You will not fg tell us what story to write. And you know why? Because in your own personal life, you shouldnt have sit here. You shouldnt even have been here ...

🗣? The people carried us through that World Cup. Although they werent there, we felt them. Our #ChasingTheSun2 journey ends with the words of Dr. Johan Rassie Erasmus 💚![CDATA[]]>🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦 pic.twitter.com/xhbkfYcFiq

You told the world, Fk you, Ill show you. Ill show you I will come out on the other side ... I will show you Ill make it. I will show I will be one of the best teams in the world, on the biggest stage ...

We cant let them script our movie, boys. Im getting emotional sorry.

🗣? We cant let them script our movie boys. Goosebumps stuff from Jacques Nienabers speech before the World Cup final.. 💻 Stream all five episodes of #ChasingTheSun2 on Catch Up. pic.twitter.com/W0rNISS2zi

Who wouldnt want to run through a brick wall for your coach and team after that?

Then, apart from Handr Pollards ice-cool goal kicking and Pieter-Steph du Toits incredible 28 tackles, there was Cheslin Kolbe agreeing to cover scrumhalf having been called into a coaches meeting with the look of a naughty schoolboy on his face and the unbearable tension of watching the last eight minutes from the sidelines following his yellow card for a deliberate knockdown.

Kwagga Smith made a number of crucial turnovers and carries in the second half, Kurt-Lee Arendses try-saving tackle on Rieko Ioane was one to remember, and Jasper Wiese made that carry off the back of the last scrum, to secure the Webb Ellis Cup with a 12-11 victory.