Thousands of people turned out to see the Rugby World Cup champions hold their victorious ticker-tape parade in Durban on Sunday morning.
Bok jerseys, South African flags and banners proclaiming the Boks’ World Cup triumph were seen along the entire route.
One poster read: ”It’s no misJake. We’re #1”, referring to the team’s coach, Jake White.
More than two hours before the Springboks boarded their open-top double-decker bus, hundreds had queued outside Durban’s Elangeni Hotel in a bid to see their heroes.
Anne-Marie Daly and two friends were outside the hotel proudly wearing their signed Springbok jerseys.
Daly said she and her two friends took a chance and managed to secure a room at the hotel on Friday afternoon.
”We had an absolute ball. We chatted to them at breakfast. We’ll probably never have another chance like this,” she said.
”They’re much better looking in real life,” she added, as chants of ”We want Jake” erupted from an impatient crowd.
The Springbok team were aboard the bus with captain John Smit at the back holding the Webb Ellis trophy and his young son.
A second bus followed immediately behind packed with photographers and newsmen.
The parade was the Springboks’ fourth since lifting the trophy last Saturday.
They were expected to head to Port Elizabeth later on Sunday, before travelling on to Cape Town.
The bus stopped for a moment outside the Durban City Hall, where KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sbu Ndebele congratulated the team and hailed those from KwaZulu-Natal.
Heads turned in media circles as he proceeded to name the Sharks players, including ”Bobby Skinhead” (Skinstad).
Ndebele said he was convinced the Boks could take the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
Bok captain Smit said: ”We are very thankful. This is a trophy for all of South Africa.”
Shortly before the team boarded the bus, SA Rugby boss Oregan Hoskins said it was unlikely that the team would change its name.
”I’m not aware of any move to change the team’s name. It’s a winning brand. The whole nation has embraced it.”
During the tour of the country since the Boks arrived back from France, Hoskins had been surprised at the support across the colour spectrum.
”I didn’t realise that the masses had embraced the Bok team. I am overwhelmed. They [the Springboks] are ours. They are South Africans. Nobody must forget that.” — Sapa