WATCH: Beast and the Bokke arrive at King Shaka to crowds of awaiting fans

South Africa has cleared the rest of the table and slammed its fist down in the name of rugby. We are the 2019 world champions of the sport.

A large crowd chants and sings together as they wait for the Springboks to arrive.

Whether by teamwork, coaching or pure sweat, the Springboks have managed to send our opponents back home with a rock steady message: hands off of our game.

Rugby is a staple for many South African schools and is a demonstration of what we can do with united effort and collective strength, rather than individual creed and tenacity.

Fans make sure that the South African flag flies high as they await the arrival of the Springboks at the King Shaka International Airport.

Arriving back home via Dubai on November 6, the team was greeted by an outpouring of celebration as hundreds of fans descended on OR Tambo International Airport, delivered into the welcoming arms of their brothers and sisters still etched with the scent of a national triumph.

Thursday night saw the team pull into King Shaka International airport to a cheering crowd chanting “Beast” until the Dolphin Coast resident hero finally made his way through the arrivals gate with the rest of the team.

Brettenwood resident Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira will take a well deserved rest following his retirement from rugby after the win, but the adrenalin hasn’t worn off the country yet with many people sharing memes and doctored images, keeping the vibe going.

Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira, although exhausted, took time to pose alongside Ballito locals Jasmine and Maddison Robert.

Siya Kolisi, captain of the national rugby team, is the bow of the year’s success and still credits his coach Rassie Erasmus for the win – but Erasmus grins in the quiet of the glamour, letting Kolisi enjoy his leadership and revel in the limelight of his success.

Siya Kolisi makes his way toward the team bus smiling and greeting fans who were waiting for them at King Shaka International Airport.

The nation is bathing in the warm glow of the Boks’ success as the Webb Ellis trophy is paraded around the country, bringing joy to citizens from every walk of life; the message that anyone in this country is able to conquer the world in any domain is written into Kolisi’s eyes.

Faf de Klerk, the speedo-clad star who darts about the rugby pitch like a housefly, has a smile as wide as the try line – and this is the marriage of stubborn confidence with national pride that South Africans will enjoy as they rub shoulders with their heroes during their national tour.

The South African response with humour, tongue-in-cheek graphics and chuckle-worthy pictures are typical of a nation retaining the lighter side of life in the wake of political and economical downturns this year, and capitalize on a factor that keeps this country running in the storm: our resilience to external critique and ability to skim the surface of the noise, onward to victory despite our differences.

The unsung heroes like Erasmus can sleep peacefully knowing that the melody of our national anthem will define their walking stride no matter where they go, and the cheerful brethren of local supporters will boomerang their enthusiasm for years to come until the next world cup.
Well done Springboks, and well done South Africa.