What could be better than a double Super 14-semi weekend in South Africa? An all South Africa final in Soweto of course!
I am not one for fake or plastic marketing campaigns like the one currently on the go with the theme; “The Bulls in the Hood”.
Neither am I convinced that moving the game to Soweto for the semi-finals (and possible final) will do that much for rugby amongst black people in this country either.
After-all, the move was not conceived through an idea or some outreach or development program with honest intentions at heart, it was necessary because the game of roundball has turned our country upside down.
What does excite me however is the fact the rugby supporting and playing public will be removed from their perceived comfort zones and shown how the beautiful game of rugby union can cross all boundaries where success is not necessarily restricted to the tried and tested, the known or our own perceived fortresses, but that it belongs to all South Africans.
Although we all share a common passion for the game of rugby union, there still exist a sense of entitlement and ownership amongst a large portion of the supporting and playing public.
To this day when a traditionally white club has to travel to a traditionally coloured or black club, plans are made with military precision on how big the travelling convoy will be, what times you plan to enter and exit said warzones and contingency plans, if necessary, are formulated. Similarly, the other way around plans are made for how you will get the back-up regiments on location to provide support in numbers because it is still, us versus them even though we all just play the game.
I know this because I have been in both camps, and it would have been bloody funny if it was not so bloody sad.
Of course this is not just a rugby thing, it is a South African thing – we simply hate leaving our comfort zones.
It robs us of so much though.
The times when these perceptions were changed, when I saw and insisted that the team stays for a drink with their opposite number, share a Boerie Roll afterwards and talk about their heroes (this was at club level) and their teams they support the brotherhood of rugby shone through. Friendships were forged, perceptions rubbished, all through the common passion we all share, the game of rugby union.
So as much as I cannot get myself to thank the Blue Bulls Rugby Union for moving the game to Soweto since they were actually forced to do so, I must commend the union and the players for embracing this situation creating an expectation of awe around the event, not forgetting the supporters who have sold out the stadium within hours getting into the hype themselves.
A lot of perceptions will be rubbished this weekend when Soweto welcomes the Bulls and their supporters with open arms, and the only thing left for me to ask, is for both our teams to win their respective games, and have the final for the premier rugby tournament in the world, to be hosted in Soweto. And who better to host it than the two traditional powerhouses of SA Rugby!
Make us proud.
@ Blouste:
It was built by the Pretoria municipality but I have no clue who owns it actually.
Jannie asked:Hallo Barend
Daar was baie bespiegelinge onder mense rondom die finansiele implikasies rondom die skuif van die semis en moontklike finaal.
Ek weet daar is baie faktore wat in ag geneem moet word soos die opgradering op Loftus ens.
In som totaal, het die Bulle meer of minder verdien as wanneer die wedstryde op Loftus gespeel sou word, of dalk minder maar die voordele wat daaruit getrek word weeg swaarder op ?
Baie sterkte vir die laaste wedstryde en ons hoop en glo die Bulle gaan dit #3 maak in die S14.
Dankie ook vir jou tyd en dat julle so ‘n geleentheid aan ons bied.
Jannie
Barend answered:Jannie, Daar’s 10,000 sitplekke minder op Orlando. Maak die som self! Die BBM het in 2004 reeds getender vir SWC 2010 en toe was dit nog Super 12, die kompetisie was korter! Die groot bate is egter die R141m se verbeteringe aan Loftus, hierdie verbeteringe sou nooit uit eie fondse gefinsier kon word nie. Loftus is nou weer ‘n moderne stadion en is nou vir die volgende aantal jare “compliant” vir groot wedstryde.
Dankie vir jou ondersteuning!
Groete, Barend
24@ Rugby_Princess:
lol, if you promise to only look at my face 😉
27@ Morné: Beeld recons the people of Orlando are excited… they recon there is more talk of the Bulls match in Soweto than Bafana’s chances in the SWC…
Not doing much for rugby amongst black people?
Clearly, it is doing more than we possibly imagine!
Gooooooooo Bullllllllllssssssss, Gooooooooooo Piratesssssssssssssss
@ grootblousmile:
Go have a ball at Orlando.
Soweto kicks ass and loved it every time I went there, people are magic too.
But pray-tell what average Soweto citizen can afford R150 to R300 for a ticket to the match? How many even had access to outlets selling tickets?
How many can afford to fork out R500 for a supporters jersey?
And what will the semi’s mean to Sipho, or Innocent, or any Soweto citizen 6 months from now?
You think this hype of a once off semi in Soweto has a sustainable effect on people of Soweto with regards to the game of rugby?
You think Soweto rugby club will be inundated with applications for players to join them in the next couple of days or weeks?
The only thing this event, and a final will possibly remove are perceptions of people from both sides of the fence. It is not much, but perhaps a start.
But to think SA Rugby has turned a corner…
Please – plastic marketing.
I have attended too many hotdog and free t-shirt clinics in rural areas to know it means absolutely f-all to those people in the long run.
@ grootblousmile:
I know I posted the link.
Hey julle moegoes is hierdie ‘n Bulls/Stormer argument of ‘n persoonlike ding…
Ek wil weet watter kant ek moet kies 😆
28 @ bdb:
😆
Gbs, so you reckon every Tom, Frik and Sipho is going to be at Orlando tomorrow…. 😉
@ grootblousmile:
Morning GBS, do me a favour, I understand Gold, Muir and Percy Montgomery have been involved with PDV planning the forthcoming Bok visit to our shores, can you find out if Percy is coming over with them or not?
As you have friends in high places !! 😉
@ Blouste:
No need to, I am done on this topic.
I tell you what I do find funny though. The other day I read elsewhere how someone described this blog to someone else, and he basically said that it is a place where Bulls supporters gather – I found that peculiar.
But since I posted this same piece on more than one website and this is the only place where I am persecuting the Bulls I suppose it makes more sense now.
That said, my thoughts for this weekend is summed up above in the article.
I hope the Bulls and Stormers kick ass this weekend and look forward to a sell-out in Soweto next weekend where I have already made plans to attend if this is the case.
Ciao.
I am all of a dither….Bulls by 5 or 10?
Stormers by 5 or more………..?
Typical, I get a Friday off and there are no Super 14 games!
@ fender:
No but they are getting in on the vibe and getting their support behind the Bulls…
I think the Unions must organise a strike like action with 20 000 or so Sowetans to welcome the Crusaders… 😆
That will test their nerves… 😉
@ Morné:
Cheers Morne, go well.
@ Blue Bird:
Hi Birdie, Friday off, thats not to bad.
At least you can still relax !!! 😉
@ Morné:
One last thing… PLEASE tell me you’ve got the Crusaders for a win on superbru 😉
40 @ Blue Bird:
I guess it helps that Percy are seperated now 😉
@ Blouste:
For you buddy I will pick them!
(What I do for the Bulls…) 😉
Blouste
Morne might not but I will !! 😀
How long is the drive from Soweto back to the land of Blue Milk & Honey ? & how much longer will it be if the Saders triumph 😀
@ Morné:
He he he…Thanks !!!
@ Rugby_Princess:
Basically the same as from Jo’Burg… rather ask, who much longer will it be before the Saders triumph again…YEARS !!!
@ Rugby_Princess:
Maybe its a good idea to type and save your “congrats to the BULLS” post now, seeing it might be difficult to do so through all those tears after the game… 😉
39@ fender:
I recon we’ll be pleasantly surprised by the welcome from the citizens of Soweto… and I expect more Sipho’s to be at the venue than has been the case at Loftus… but considering price restraints and the fact that it was sold at Computicket PLUS the fact that Season ticket holders had first choice would dictate that the majority would still be the typical Loftus crowd.
A wonderful thing I’ve noticed at Loftus though, this year, is the fact that the broadening of spectators from all creeds is also happening.
Whatever the case, expect Orlando to be blue…. all singing from the same page!
Anybody interested in 3 match tickets for the semi at Orlando?
Well, a friend of Tripples apparently has 3 tickets avaiable @ R 250.00 per ticket… must take all 3.
“The Bulls in the Hood”.
😆
Is there any Bead & Breakfasts near the Orlando stadium? If i go i might want to sleep over.
@ Snoek:
“Bed” not Bead”
@ 58 – Snoek:
These spelling mistakes make me think of Puma.
@ Snoek:
http://www.sa-venues.com/visit/vhavendahillsbandb/map.php
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