Every Springbok fan knows the tingling that starts when they hear the Boks will head to Eden Park - the holiest of holy grounds in New Zealand rugby to face their arch-enemy - the All Blacks.
It is something you can’t explain. It is something that starts slowly, that tingling and that excitement. There may be World Cups and there may be massive games in rugby, but playing the All Blacks at Ellis Park is the Holy Grail.
It is the game every Springbok wants to play. And the fact it happens so seldomly is what makes it all so much more special.
Don’t kid yourselves, there will be many headlines of a massive game this year - next week in Wellington, later in the year in Dublin, or in Paris - ‘Le Revenge’ as it will probably be termed when the French want to avenge the World Cup quarterfinal defeat at the hands of the Springboks.
MASSIVE GAMES
There will be massive games, but none as massive as Eden Park against the All Blacks.
That isn’t putting it lightly. History has shown that these games have more than their fair share of drama. There is always something - and quite bizarre - that tends to come from these games.
Think about the last time the Springboks were there. Bismarck du Plessis’ massive tackle on Dan Carter. The outrage at the yellow card of Romain Poite, and the effect on the game it had.
Du Plessis’ yellow card was eventually overturned, and World Rugby later ruled it a perfectly legal tackle, but in the cauldron of Eden Park, All Black supporters bayed for blood and Romain Poite obliged.
The sense of injustice was everywhere, or at least to anyone in a Green and Gold jersey. The All Blacks won at a canter and Du Plessis received a second yellow, turning it into red. The Bok hotel foyer after the game was a morgue. Players didn’t sit around and talk about the injustice. They were stunned, as if they’d seen a car crash live.
EPIC DRAW
Think also about 1994 - the epic draw at Eden Park after one of the toughest tours the Boks had ever encountered and pressure was on them to get some sort of result after losing the first two tests in Dunedin and Wellington.
The All Blacks started like a house on fire, surging ahead, only being stopped by indiscretions that gave them two early penalties and a 6-0 lead. There was an almost try by Chester Williams and some big plays by Japie Mulder, before Gavin Johnson looped around Williams to go in at the corner.
A dropped pass and a wonderful kick through by Hennie le Roux led to Brendan Venter scoring at the other end of the field. There was a massive swinging punch from Brendan Venter as well, and watching the highlights again, by applying the modern game rules, there were probably about 15 cards that could have been given.
The All Blacks drew level with 10 minutes to go, and Williams stopped Michael Jones on the line in a try-saving tackle near the end. Hennie le Roux was high-tackled into touch by Stephen Bachop and the draw was secured, although very unsatisfactory for all involved.
FLOUR BOMB DRAMA
And remember the 1981 loss - the Alan Hewson penalty that was debated for years afterwards, the Ray Mordt hat-trick of tries and the low flying Cessna that dropped flour bombs to try and disrupt the match. It was madness and it was rugby. But it was Eden Park.
My first live game was the 1998 55-35 loss for the Springboks at Eden Park. A day the Boks led 22-8 and then lost the plot in the second half, losing Ruben Kruger to injury and Andre Venter became only the third Springbok to get a red card.
It was chaos, it was tense, and it was a match that I would never forget.
Since then I’ve watched a World Cup unfold in 2011 at the venue, seeing how Sam Warburton’s madness with a tip tackle ended Wales’ chances at the tournament and how Craig Joubert was lenient to a tee helping the All Blacks win the 2011 final.
The games are always tense, the All Blacks are always psyched up and both nations sit on tenterhooks. A 50-game record that has lasted 31 years is on the line. The Boks have a four game winning streak over their greatest rivals and Ardie Savea will run out for his 100th test.
What drama will unfold this weekend? What talking point will have us enthralled for the return in Wellington?
And just how much tension will there be when kick off arrives on Saturday morning.
Like most South Africans, and probably most New Zealanders, I can’t wait.
