South Africa World Champion

The Springboks will bring it home finally. For a second time after 1995, South Africa has been proclaimed Rugby World Champion. A very solid performance was assuring the 15-6 victory over England, entirely obtained by penalties transformed by Percy Montgomery and François Steyn.
President Thabo Mbeki joined the celebrations in Paris. Captain John Smit who lifted the trophy said later: "We've now won a World Cup away from home. We had our president sitting in the changing room. He was saying how proud he was of being a South African.''
It is expected that the whole nation will stand united and celebrate the team on its return next Tuesday. But some commentators are already predicting an uncertain future for South Africa's rugby. There have been harsh critics in the past due to the fact that black players are still under-represented in the national selection. A quota system has been discussed. The departing coach Jake White said that his successor will need a thick skin. "You know, it's such a great privilege, but it is the toughest job in world rugby, it comes with a huge amount of connotations that you have to look into."
The South African community in Barcelona was mainly congregated in the central George Payne pub. And very happy as you might imagine...


South African girls smiling for the photograph...

...and meanwhile I tried to tackle two of the fat boys on the way to the bar.