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Lazers, haka, history: Rugby's Greatest Rivalry roars to life as All Blacks light up Cape Town RUGBY The All Blacks perform the haka ahead of their clash against the Stormers at DHL Stadium on Friday evening. Image: Henk Kruger / ANA Studio The 30-year-long wait is finally over. While the All Blacks have visited the Republic plenty times for Tri-Nations and Rugby Championship Tests since the heroes clad in black, led by the irrepressible Sean Fitzpatrick, left these shores as “The Immortals” back in 1996, a full tour just hits differently. And it was only fitting that Cape Town, with the majestic Table Mountain fading into the dusk in the background, played host to the Greatest Rivalry tour opener. The Cape has long held the men from the Land of the Long White Cloud close to its heart, and now fans finally had an opportunity to see their heroes up close. A sea of black and white streamed through the turnstiles, many with a partner, friend, or family member in a Stormers jersey. For one balmy Friday night, Cape Town was divided — torn right through the middle. But it only added to the occasion. For every black jersey, there were three blue-and-white ‘streeptruie’ that made up a credible overall attendance of 47,130. The atmosphere was undoubtedly boosted by an 800-strong contingent from Wynberg Boys’ High School — the alma mater of 20-year-old Stormers debutant flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed and prop Zachary Porthen. The pupils belted out the famous ‘Blue and White’ just before the first whistle. The stadium was certainly electric, with lighting beams sweeping low over the turf before snapping upright in perfect unison, creating a stadium-wide heartbeat just before kick-off. Even for a venue that has hosted a Fifa World Cup semi-final and a URC final, this was extra special. A colleague alongside me stated that it brought back memories of the spectacular light show at the Stade de France in Paris ahead of the Boks’ second World Cup triumph. But the best was yet to come: the haka. The Kiwis formed their familiar wedge on the halfway line, boots planted, eyes fixed forward. As the challenge rang out, the grand stadium fell — just for a moment — completely silent. There is always excitement surrounding who will lead the haka. The honour fell to winger Rieko Ioane, whose voice cut through the hush as he drove the chant on behalf of the team, with his newly bleached hair only adding to his presence at the head of the formation. Around him, Cape Town Stadium simply watched, thousands of phones raised, before the silence broke into a roar as the final stomp echoed off the stands. These were memories that the fans would hold onto for a lifetime. The game itself was a cold reminder of the exact nature of their challenge here in South Africa. With the New Zealand franchises no longer facing their greatest rivals in Super Rugby, it took a while for the visitors to adapt to the Stormers’ physicality. And when the game was deadlocked at 14-14 shortly after halftime, the Stormers faithful certainly believed they could be witnessing an upset of epic proportions and, more importantly, securing bragging rights in the Mother City. Ultimately, it was not a fairytale ending for the blue and white, but it was indeed the perfect start to a tour that is already showing signs it will live up to its billing as The Greatest Rivalry. Related Topics: