Bloemfontein is not exactly a bustling metropolis by any stretch of the imagination.
It’s the capital of the Free State, but it’s doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg or the beauty and nightlife of Cape Town.
It’s also one of the flattest city’s in South Africa. Bloemfontein-born comedian Carl Weber once said that when his dog ran away from home, he could actually still see it running in the distance four days later ..,
But Bloemfontein has got it’s own charms. The local pubs are always full despite the freezing winter temperatures in the evening, while they have some of the best meat in the country. The people are very friendly and always up for a braai.
But on Saturday afternoon Bloemfontein — and specifically the Free State Stadium — will take centre stage when the Springboks take on England in the second Test of the three-match series.
It’s bound to be one of the more emotional Test matches played in South Africa. The match is taking place on Youth Day, a day commemorating the Soweto uprising when hundreds of school children lost their lives after standing up to the Apartheid government. It’s also the birthday of Siya Kolisi, the first black player to captain the Springboks after the fall of Apartheid.
Veteran looshead prop Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira is playing his 100th Test match, while former Bok flanker André Venter, who is now wheelchair bound, handed out the jerseys. South Africa’s new president Cyril Ramaphosa is will also attend the match, which is expected to be played in front of a capacity crowd.
Then there is the optimism around the Boks again, a wave of euphoria sweeping through the country. A transformed Springbok team, with a black captain at the helm, came from 24-3 down to beat England in the first Test. A win in the will also second Test will clinch the series.
South Africa is content … for now.
But too much emotion could be a distraction for the Springboks and might derail their quest to down the English, who remain a dangerous team despite chucking away their lead at Ellis Park.
Erasmus knows it’s going to be quite the occasion, much like it was at Ellis Park. In the first 20 minutes of that match, his team looked like Springboks caught in the headlights. But they fought back beautifully in the next hour, and it’s that experience that Erasmus wants them to take into this potential series decider.
“I guess it is impossible for guys to keep the emotion away. It is what it is, it is a 100th game [for Mtawarira],” Erasmus said.
“The players need to have the capability to handle all that [emotion] and still go out there and put the effort out there. That is the big trick, the big secret.
“Like Siya did last week, it was a big occasion for him, but he was focused, he was tired that last 10 minutes, but he was focused and did his job.
“We expect the same from Siya and the same from Beast as well. And all of us, we shouldn’t make a helluva hype so the focus goes away from the game. We will use it, but I guess channel it in the right direction.”
Erasmus, though, is really happy with the emotional support the Boks are enjoying at the moment.
SA Rugby, and specifically the Springboks, have gone through a tough time over the last few years. But Erasmus has learned from the mistakes his processors made in terms of selection, as well as transformation. And now the nation is right behind the Boks.
“Look it is nice the support we are getting currently. It is an honour, first of all, and the only way we can repay the current positivity around the team is by putting the effort out there on the field,” Erasmus said.
“It is all an honour, but it means nothing if you just say it is an honour. You have to go out there and play as if you appreciate it.”
Bloemfontein might be sleepy, but it’s set to come alive on Saturday evening.