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PARIS - South Africa captain John Smit said he was delighted that the longest week of his team's life was over after they had achieved their dream of delivering the World Cup to their 45 million compatriots.
The 29-year-old, speaking after the Springboks had deservedly beaten 2003 champions England 15-6, added that from his point of view there was no difference in colour in the team.
For him, the two most important people had been wingers Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen, both of whom are coloured.
"We are a colourful country," said Smit, who had an outstanding game despite ending it bloodied and with stitches round his left eye.
"We have 11 different languages, but the amount of forward momentum for the country that we have got from this has been incredible."
However, Smit said that he hoped the win - South Africa's second World Cup title after winning it in 1995 at home - would provoke a review of the quota system whereby a certain number of black or coloured players must be included in the squad regardless of merit.
"I certainly hope that this will create a scenario about counting numbers," said Smit, who was winning his 74th cap and possibly his last before he joins French side Clermont.
"Two of the most important guys in the past seven weeks have been Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen.
"There is no colour in our team, everyone no matter what their colour gives everything.
"It says a lot about how far we gave gone forward as a nation and we will celebrate with 45 million people on Tuesday," added Smit, who has captained the 'Boks a record 47 times.
Smit, who at one point experienced possibly his lowest playing moment at the same Stade de France ground when he fractured France's Jerome Thion's larynx in a Test and received a six-week ban, said he could scarcely believe that 12 years after watching prop Os du Randt play in the final he was sharing the trophy with him.
"Twelve years ago I was watching Os and his mates and dreaming if it was possible to do it myself alongside him.
"I can't put it into words. We have lived the longest week of our lives as part of a four-year dream and assumed an enormous responsibility of carrying a nation's hopes and we are grateful we are carrying the trophy back to them."
Coach Jake White, who is likely to step down and has been linked with the Wales and Australia vacancies, said that the impact of the win would be enormous for the country.
"A country like South Africa realised in 1995 that winning World Cups is huge for a nation like us," said the 43-year-old.
"We have our president (Thabo Mbeki) in the dressing room.
"The words he said there was that there would be parties back home and how proud he is of being South African."
White, who was on the verge of being sacked last November because of a series of poor results, received high praise from Smit, a player he persuaded to change from prop to hooker when he was in charge of the Under-21 side.
"Four years ago when Jake took charge of the side he said we will win the World Cup and he is no liar. He has been incredible and delivered on his promises," said the hooker.
However, there was one thing even dearer to Smit's heart.
"Someone asked me how long are you going to cling to the Webb Ellis trophy and I said I wish I could for the rest of my life."
- AFP
