Rugby writer shares spirit, hope and joy
A SENSATIONAL book detailing the Springbok’s journey to the 2023 World Cup and their victory has just hit the shelves.
Veteran Independent Media rugby writer Mike Greenaway, whose last book The Fireside Springbok was a runaway success, has just released Bok to Bok.
Greenaway told the Independent on Saturday that it was hot off the press and he only received the first copy two weeks ago.
He said he was inspired to write the book after binge-watching reruns of the Rugby World Cup on New Year’s Day.
“I just knew that the appetite for Springbok rugby is huge. I thought I’m writing about this. I’m doing another book.
“I literally started on the 1st of January and I finished the manuscript, I would say, in July. Then there’s been the production process of getting it all laid out and sourcing the pics and so on. So, that’s how it happened.”
Greenaway said the World Cup was a “fantastic time” to be South African and he wanted to capture that feeling of belonging and pride in his book. He said the players speak from the heart all the time because they know it’s not just about winning the game, it’s about giving hope to a nation.
“It’s not just sport for the Springboks, it’s a responsibility, and I think that’s the difference. I hope it comes through clearly in the book (the difference) between the Springboks and the other teams at the World Cup. A lot of those other countries aren’t playing for the same sense of nationhood as the Springboks do.”
Greenaway said the Springboks took the line first made popular by Ultimate Fighting Champion (UFC) champion Dricus du Plessis “hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie” and turned it into their rallying cry.
The meaning is that whatever you are doing, you are doing for South Africa and you have to do just a little more to put smiles on the faces of South Africans.
“There are many who are struggling and that’s what they mean by that phrase. That was very much the Springbok sort of motto all the time. They said, look, when things were really tough, we just thought of all those people at home who have that expectation of us to make them happy. And that made us push a little bit harder, made us get to the right side of those one point ones. Siya Kolisi, the captain, speaks so often about that. He takes it very, very personally that each time he puts on that Springbok jersey and he conveys it to all his teammates,” said Greenaway.
He said just like the Springboks carried the weight of the country on their shoulders, he too felt a responsibility to convey their powerful message as colourfully and with as much impact as possible.
“I really think it’s important that the legacy of these guys who did so much for their country is recorded.
“It’s there, it can never be taken away. What they did has been not only faithfully recorded, but I hope I recorded it in an entertaining fashion, because that’s what I want you to get from this book; for people to read it and just break out into a smile and think, ‘oh yeah, I remember that. That was fantastic. Oh wow, I’m getting goosebumps all over again’."
Even though his last book was a sell-out, at the time Greenaway couldn’t find any publishers willing to take a chance on him and he had to get a bank loan to cover the massive printing costs. “I put my money on green and that book went so well that I’ve decided to follow the same route,” he said.
Greenaway said there was something really cool about reading a book where you know what happens in the end, and you like the ending.
As a rugby writer he also laughed and danced and cried as the nation watched the Springboks go from one nail-biting match to another, hoping to retain the Webb-Ellis Cup.
“Being a working rugby writer, I had to do my best to keep the tears from falling onto the laptop, because I was writing about the games. And that is a real test of your professionalism as a writer, that you sort of get the job done, when all you want to do is jump up and dance around yourself. But it’s impossible not to just get swept up with it all. I’m really fortunate that I’m able to write about such a great team.”
Greenaway said for the Boks, there was a huge difference between the 2019 and 2023 World Cup because in 2019, the Springboks went to Japan without expecting to win. He said Rassie Erasmus had only taken over as the head coach a year before and was still building the team. While Erasmus believed they could do quite well, they had no expectation of winning it.
And then, of course, they did.
“Four years later they go to France and it’s very different this time.
“They were just starting out in 2019 but in 2023, they were the real deal and the country expected them to win this time. And they did feel that responsibility. That was the big difference,” said Greenaway.
He said it was “amazing” that they stepped up to a big level and raised their game according to the expectations.
But will they be able to do it again and make it three in a row? Greenaway believes they can.
“I really am convinced they’ll do it. And it is their acknowledged ambition. They’ve said we want to do it, they call it the three-peat, not the repeat, the three-peat.”
Bok to Bok is about a crucial time in our nation’s history and a great gift for rugby lovers. The suggested retail price is R599 and it and can be found at all good bookshops.