An hour after the ultimate whistle sounded on Harlequins’ 39-29 win over the Sharks from Durban on Saturday, many of the crowd had left the Stoop.
However on the backside of the LV Stand, a couple of hundred followers remained – arms outstretched as they thrust rugby balls, reproduction shirts and scraps of paper in the direction of South Africa captain Siya Kolisi.
He obliged with numerous signatures and selfies – and when one fan requested for his black-and-white socks, he yanked them off and stood for an extra 20 minutes barefoot within the chilly.
Kolisi’s team-mate Eben Etzebeth – the towering lock who scored a devilishly artful strive – was equally focused by enthusiastic supporters after the match.
Ought to anybody have wanted tangible proof that South African golf equipment have added worth to European membership rugby, this was it.
In fact, there’ll nonetheless be those that don’t help the inclusion of the Sharks, Bulls and Stormers within the Heineken Champions Cup, and the Lions and Cheetahs within the EPCR Problem Cup.
England prop Joe Marler – relatively mischievously, it needs to be mentioned – questioned a visit to South Africa in European competitors, whereas France talisman Antoine Dupont mentioned their inclusion was “troublesome to know”.
Apart from the extra journey and carbon emissions, the presence of the South African groups has resulted in a bloated group stage that has taken among the gloss from a as soon as glittering competitors.
However any doubts had been certainly put to mattress on Saturday. It was a rugby match that felt like an occasion. Blockbuster skills produced a blockbuster present worthy of the event.
“It is the very best membership competitors on this planet,” Etzebeth mentioned. “I’ve been a part of Tremendous Rugby and Prime 14 and URC however the Champions Cup is one thing particular, one thing totally different.
“All of the groups attempt to roll as much as the Champions Cup week and get their finest gamers prepared.
“It is a particular competitors to play in.”
The South African golf equipment have evidently taken the competitors critically.
John Dobson and Neil Powell – the top coaches on the Stormers and Sharks respectively – have said their want to win the Champions Cup, and each have secured dwelling matches within the final 16. So too have the Lions, who will host Racing 92 within the Problem Cup knockouts.
“The gamers have responded rather well. From the beginning, the Boks – the likes of Siya and Eben – needed to win it,” Powell mentioned.
“It was only a case of understanding the competitors. The circulation of it. How essential it’s. Each sport is essential.”
Stylistically, the adjustment from Tremendous Rugby – with a better emphasis on working rugby towards the New Zealand and Australian franchises – has come straightforward for the South Africans. European membership rugby, usually performed in chilly circumstances by groups who search to dominate up entrance above all else, fits the newcomers simply high quality.
“We’re studying that the Champions Cup is definitely the elite of world rugby,” mentioned Russell Winter, the Bulls forwards coach.
“When you’re not dominant up entrance you’ve got bought no probability. When you do not entrance up, it may be an extended day.
“That expansive play that you just look to play in Tremendous Rugby is harder within the snow and moist. The pack must be sturdy and it is attritional. It is troublesome.”
One other issue has performed into South African arms, with jetlag not a barrier to success.
Lengthy-haul flights throughout the Indian Ocean for Tremendous Rugby matches would traverse as much as 10 totally different time zones and would enormously influence the efficiency of visiting groups.
Now, shorter journeys to Europe imply groups can journey in midweek and nonetheless really feel contemporary for a weekend sport.
Not that the journey up north is a simple one – most groups have opted to chop prices and cram their gigantic athletes in economic system class. And as soon as they arrive, many step into a completely alien panorama.
“Among the guys had by no means seen snow earlier than this week,” says Winter. “However we’re blessed to be doing this. We’re blessed to be right here.”
The variations in climate have clearly made for various enjoying circumstances – because the Bulls had been ploughing by snowfall on Friday, the Stormers had been working riot below wonderful Cape City sunshine, beating Clermont Auvergne 30-16.
The space and journey prices have additionally acted as a deterrent for away followers. There have been a couple of hundred Clermont followers in attendance in Cape City, based on SuperSport commentator Matthew Pearce, however that’s an exception.
“Credit score to them for making the journey,” Pearce says.
“It will be great if extra followers adopted their groups. Will we see the identical for Quins towards Stormers? Possibly we’ll. Because the competitors matures and extra followers get behind the brand new construction, issues will evolve.”
Pearce says South Africans are actually warming to the match. He has made some extent of training his viewers on the status of European membership rugby when on commentary responsibility.
“I’ve beloved it,” he says. “There’s been lots mentioned of journey schedules and different points – nevertheless it’s been sensible.
“The followers at dwelling have actually bought behind it. The time zones assist. After I’m not working, I am nonetheless watching the Champions Cup, greater than I did with Tremendous Rugby.
“I do know I am not the one one.”
It is taken some time, however the South Africans now really feel totally enmeshed in European membership rugby.
And, regardless of the doubters might say, they’ve actually performed their half.
