IT has become custom to watch the Impi charge onto the field, the vanguard of the Springboks, at home grounds around South Africa.
Led by Sibusiso Kotelo, the fearsome trio, iklwa in one hand and isihlangu in the other, have become a cultural touchstone that speaks to South African culture, our rich heritage, and the differences that bind our nation. It is a celebration of what makes the country unique and, although more to do with hyping up the attending crowd, it has been embraced as a favourable addition to the pre-match build-up.
The same could not be said of the Impi attempt almost 100 years ago when the All Blacks played the Springboks for the first time on African soil. Having completed the haka for the first Test in Durban on June 30, 1928, the visitors - and a record capacity crowd - had to endure the Geejimalayo, a "Zulu" war cry devised in haste by the Boks to counter the more famous New Zealand challenge.
Led by Bok captain Phil Mostert, the war cry - as well as the name of it - was nothing more than "bad Zulu and gibberish". It was thankfully never repeated again, although it did reportedly entertain the largely partisan crowd on the day with incredulity, snickers, and embarrassed laughter.
There was a degree of anxiety and trepidation as the Euripides dropped anchor in Durban harbour in mid-May 1928. On board was a group of New Zealanders who, despite being mere mortals, were treated like mythical heroes arriving on distant shores.
It is a remarkable feat that nearly 100 years later, the same fears and concerns swirl around the start of the next Test series at Ellis Park in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry.
Captained by Maurice Brownlie, the All Blacks of 1928 certainly arrived with an indomitable aura surrounding them. Indeed, many pundits and commentators expressed a belief that the Class of '28 was a more formidable outfit than the now famous "Invincibles" of four years prior, who had cruised through the British Isles unbeaten.
Springbok selector George St Leger "Long George" Devenish was even quoted as saying: “I have never seen men of such magnificent physique.”
The touring team were scheduled to play 22 games, including four Tests, over a three-month period, starting after a gruelling six-week trip by sea and then a 64-hour train ride from Durban to Cape Town, where they played their first match against Western Province Country four days after arrival.
They then toured the country, stopping in Kimberley, Johannesburg, Kroonstad, back to Joburg, Potchefstroom, and Pietermaritzburg before the first Test in Durban at Kingsmead, losing to Cape Town Clubs and Transvaal during those first eight games.
The weather in Durban was bleak, with a freezing, gusty wind whipping through Kingsmead and rain threatening. To make matters worse for the visitors, the All Blacks had relied on an antiquated 2-3-2 formation at scrum time, with their eighth man roaming behind the set-piece in a "rower" role.
In stark contrast, the Boks had developed the now familiar 3-4-1 formation, and it was this difference in approach that separated the hosts from the visitors on that historic day. The All Blacks also battled to come to grips with a more "pointed" ball during the tour.
As such, that first Test was characterised by a powerful forward display by the Boks, who dominated the All Blacks at the set-piece, winning the scrum battle 36-16. Although a great platform in itself, the scrum was not the only weapon that won the day.
The other was the imperious display of flyhalf Bennie Osler.
Previously, kicking was generally employed by teams to mostly find touch. Osler - who famously suffered from such severe pre-match nerves that he was prone to vomiting before kick-off - completely revolutionised the position. His educated boot not only inspired what would today be considered 10-man rugby, but it also introduced the concept of tactical kicking.
Up-and-unders, kicking for territorial gain, and cross-field kicks were a staple of The Great Dictator’s play, although it would in future be decried by many as setting up conservative and boring tactics. Regardless, the All Blacks had rarely experienced such an approach, and coupled with the ferocious battle up-front, had no answer for the Bok onslaught.
Perhaps the only positive of the aforementioned Impi war cry was that it settled Osler’s infamous nervousness, helping the No 10 express himself with a masterclass of flyhalf play during the match.
With Osler pulling the strings, served brilliantly by scrumhalf Pierre de Villiers and the magnificent brilliance of a dominant forward pack, the Boks won the Test 17-0. Osler scored 14 of those points - two drop goals and two penalties - while also engineering the second-half try of winger Jack Slater. At the time, it was a world-record point haul, one that would stand until 1949 when Bok prop Okey Geffin would surpass it by slotting over five penalties, also against the All Blacks.
After the win, Osler noted: "Frankly, and this is not false modesty, the victory belonged to Mostert and his forwards. I might have scored the points, but they did the work."
What made the victory all the more impressive is that the Boks finished the match with 14 men after centre Benard Duffy was left discombobulated and bewildered on the pitch during the first half after a hefty tackle left him concussed. No substitutions were allowed in those days, forcing the Boks to complete the match a man down.
Nonetheless, the Test is remembered as "Osler’s match".
Although a brilliant triumph, it arguably created a false sense of supremacy for the heralded Boks, which would come crashing down three weeks later at Ellis Park.
Ultimately, the 17-0 masterclass of 1928 proved that no matter how fearsome the All Black aura, the Springboks could break it. But as history warned the Boks nearly a century ago a few weeks later on the turf of Ellis Park, victory against New Zealand is never the end of the story - it is merely the spark that sets off the next great battle.