Today’s Throwback Thursday from World Rugby looks back at a beautiful moment that took place post match at the Rugby World Cup 2003 Pool C game in Brisbane. After thumping Samoa 60-10, South Africa’s captain, Corne Krige, called both teams together for a quiet moment of respect and reflection.
It was a match that was remembered more for the moment that young Derick Hougaard was famously demolished by bone crusher, ‘The Chiropractor’, Brian Lima.
The Springboks actually scored eight tries on the night, with Hougaard himself picking up 21 points, but nobody remembers that. The hit is all anyone could talk about.
The stunning moment shown here was the highlight for many though, as despite a lobsided scoreline, both teams were able to come together in a huddle, swap jerseys and share a prayer. The 48,496 fans on hand to witness it clearly appreciated the sentiment.
You might notice a young Schalk Burger and Victor Matfield there. All these years later, those two may well be playing in the same fixture at the 2015 tournament, when the two sides meet again on 26 September in Birmingham.
With the game being so professional and foul play scrutinised so closely by high quality TV replays and overeager TMO’s, at times we tend to lose track of what really matters in rugby.
Of course the positive side still remains to this day, but on that night in Brisbane in 2003, the age old values of respect, humility and camaraderie certainly were on full display.
EXTRA: A similar thing actually took place in 2013 after Fiji beat Japan in the opening game of the Pacific Nations Cup. They scored two sensational tries in a rain-soaked Lautoka, but both sides came together at the end much like this. Watch that video here
credit: world rugby
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