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JOHANNESBURG - Fireworks and a sea of green and gold jubilation at South Africa's main supporters venue in Johannesburg marked the Springboks' World Cup victory today.
Some 3000 fans gathered at Boktown at Monte-Casino danced on tables, hugged each other and revelled in the country's first Rugby World Cup win in 12 years.
Buoyed by a surprise visit by former president Nelson Mandela at the supporters' venue, fans who were tense throughout the match against defending champions England, broke into song and dance in the final seconds of the match.
Before kick-off, Mandela appeared on a balcony at the venue in a Springbok rugby jersey, saying he was "confident" of a win.
"We told them we were going to crush those roses," Rhulani Mhinga of Soweto told AFP.
"It (this victory) does not have any colour barriers right now, They are screaming their lungs out in Soweto right now as much as here."
South Africans, whose last victory in 1995 united the country soon after its first democratic elections, exploded as captain John Smit lifted the Webb Ellis Cup.
"I feel anything is possible right now," said rugby-fan Andrew
Hollely of Johannesburg.
"I feel that with this victory we can remember where we came from and who we are. This is so much more than the Springboks winning the World Cup - it's about reminding a nation of what we can do. We are the best," he told AFP.
- AFP
