Creating an African Feel at International Rugby Matches in SA

What makes one rugby stadium different from the next? If you are on the field and the stadium is packed to capacity, then there is very little difference between Kingspark, Newlands, Twickenham, Stad de France, Ellispark, Millenium Stadium, Sydney, Ballymore, Perth, etc. If you are in the stadium, you are not able to see its location relative to its surrounding area, whether it is close to the sea, in the middle of London or Paris or Sydney, etc. I believe you will agree with me that it is the crowd that creates the difference, i.e. the crowd creates the atmosphere at rugby games. And today with easy international travel, a big part of the crowd is your own supporters, so one stadium must surely feel like the other.

My feeling is that during a game, there is not enough of an intimidating feel for teams playing against the Bokke in South Africa, and at the same time enough of a motivating force for the Bokke. We could use the Vuvuzele, but I heard it is banned in some stadiums because it creates too much of a noise (if there is something like that). There is probably some "Whities" who considered it too African to be used at a rugby game, considered a “Whity’s game”. It is used more widely at soccer matches, considered to be more an African game. Or maybe it is just us “Whities” that watch rugby, who have not yet caught onto it. Whatever the case, we must still create a (South) African feel at rugby games that intimidates opponents and, at the same time, motivates the Bokke.

African Drums: I would like to think we can make a real African atmosphere by inviting drummers with their African drums into the stadium, at least 100 but hopefully as many as 200, spread on all four sides of the field in roughly equal groups. If the crowd goes quiet, it is their responsibility to keep the vibe going, if the Bokke score points, it is up to them to cement this into the minds and hearts of the opposition. If the Bokke must defend, they should create an atmosphere that motivates the players to continue defending till they are “last man standing”. It thus becomes a matter of psychology, which is as much part of the game as skill.

To support this, one should play songs “indigenous” to South Africa, such as Impi, Scatterlings of Africa, Mendoza, Zola, etc. over the sound system. This has been part of cricket (and probably rugby as well) for a while and I believe successful to some degree, making playing against SA in SA so much harder.

With Kingspark in KwaZulu-Natal, i.e. the Zulu Kingdom, it would be fitting to get this started here. So that the next time the All Blacks, Wallabies, English, French, Lions, etc play against the Bokke at Kingpark, they would really feel as if they are playing against the whole nation, not just the 15 men on the field. And this they should feel right throughout the game not just at the start or after halftime.