Find a Way

Four years ago, things were not quite the same

As we earned a great victory and reached Rugby world’s fame

There was no Covid pandemic and no ChatGPT

We had to think for ourselves and walk the streets free.

It seems like the blink of an eye – and those four years have passed

Though tough times still linger while the good times fly fast

But life’s for the living and we should cherish what’s pleasant

And it’s moments like this where we live in the present.

For this team, these Springboks, OUR Green and Gold

Have shown such courage, to stand up and be bold

They’ve stood proud in the media and on the field of play

When all has looked lost, they’ve still found a way!

In the last few weeks all our nerves have been shattered

But THRICE in a row, they’ve found the one point which mattered

When the waters around us have looked a dark shade of brown

There’ve been moments of magic, like Cheslin’s charge down!

And all through this Cup, our boys have stood tall

We’ve asked them for miracles and they’ve answered our call

We could not ask for more from this brave Rugby team

Who have flown our flag high and kept our rainbow dream.

The Rugby world’s moaned at our Seven – One split

And we’ve been bombarded by drivel from that TikTok Brit twit

The Six Nations verstaan nie, want hulle het nie gesweet nie

En Drikus, dis waar, “Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie”!!

No quarter was asked and no quarter was given

And from the first kick off we looked determined and driven

A sad blow for Bongi who left the field in great pain

And fourteen tackles from Pieter-Stef, and a red card for Cane.

Would we see some touches of a strange Déjà vu?

That this time last time, the same score would be true!

With real dogged defence and four Pollard kicks

And again, the half time scoreboard read Twelve points to Six!

It’s all been too much – A Nations nerves have been blown

But the Cup’s coming home! We’ve made it our own!

Not even Cheslin could bear to watch or to look

But back to Bok victories are now in our history book!

If only our politicians could find such a way

To bring us out of the night and into the light of the day

In another of our languages, we could say they’re off ‘sides’

As they make their own people pay for all of their greedy free rides.

But South Africans dig deep, it is just who we are

Just throw us more curve balls, and we’ll still bat them far

We’ve learned to dance in the rain and make solutions from trouble

Now let’s watch our Proteas bring home the double !!

You Bokke left it all out there, you emptied your tanks

And we owe you so much, Sixty Two million Thanks

You men of the Springbok have given us a time to believe

And next World Cup’s jersey will need a much longer sleeve!

You’ve done it for us, for South Africa’s sakes

For three weeks in a row, One point’s all it takes

No matter what happens, and no matter the weather

We’ll always find ways – because we are Stronger Together!

Steve Hall

PS  The final count of PSdT tackles stood at 28 and not 14

 – but as this poem was written in the moment, 

the half time count was 14 !!

It was heroic stuff by the entire team!!