Invictus ... Don't let us down!

December 11th is a big day on my calendar, it is the day that the much awaited film 'Invictus' (based on the book 'Playing with the enemy')is released in South Africa. I cannot remember being so eager about a film before, but at the same time, I am scared to death of being disappointed. It is of course the ultimate real life fairy tale, where the underdogs became the Rugby World Champions,in a country where their new President had spent 27 years of his life locked up, where the wounds of aparthied were still very raw. If you saw this in a movie without knowing the history, you probably would think it was far fetched? and I guess that is my biggest concern really, that if the story is not portrayed correctly, it will devalue the miracle that really did take place.

The reason this is so close to my heart is because, I arrived in South Africa in December 1994, just over 6 months after Nelson Mandela had become President and 6 months before the famous Rugby world cup. Although I did not appreciate it then, but what an amazing time to have been introduced to this country? Things were looking up .... There was a new President and at long last people of colour had a voice and everyone was more proud than words can express, that they were going to be hosting the Rugby world cup. Was it about winning? Not at all ... it was about being recognised once more on the world stage, just being part of it all as the hosting nation was more than enough. Like a person that has been repressed for a long time and has no self-esteem, this was one of the country's first steps to gaining back their confidence!

I will never forget the atmosphere in the city on the night of their opening game, when South Africa beat Australia 27-18. I was staying at a backpackers at the time in Longstreet and was with friends watching the match in an Irish Bar in Greenmarket Square, where we could hardly move for the people crammed in ... all different nationalities and colours!! The amazing thing though,was that when South Africa won that night, every single person in that room felt an emotion never experienced before, any differences amongst them, were suddenly forgotten, it was a feeling and atmosphere almost impossible to describe, you just had to be there!!

The rest they say is history, as they kept up the performance, each win made us dare to believe that the impossible, might ...just maybe, be within reach! Except that the final was against the acclaimed 'All Blacks'. Despite the 'Boks' amazing perfomance, up until that point - even someone like me, that knew nothing about Rugby before arriving in South Africa,knew that the New Zealanders were in a class of their own.

The big day arrived ...June 24th 1995 - I had been working during the first half having by now decided to stay in SA with my work permit becoming valid, but arrived at the Irish bar during half time to a crowd similar to that of the opening match night, but times ten !! South Africa were winning 9-6. I do not think anyone in that bar had any fingernails left! New Zealand soon equalised which took the game to extra time, but just when we thought that was it, who could forget the most famous drop kick in history by Joel Stransky, what a story he has to tell his grandchildren! The rest of that evening in one way is a blur( I think someone must have spiked my orange juice!!) but in another, I remember every single second of it and will do so for the rest of my life. The camaradarie, and spirit was something I will probably never experience again, it was about so much more than winning a game of Rugby ...it was the start of change and guess that is why, I am worried that the Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon as good at acting as they are - will they truly be able to capture the emotion that Franscois Piennar and Nelson Mandela must have felt that night? I certainly hope so. If the trailer is anything to go by, so far so good ....