There was no flyover on Saturday at FNB Stadium.
In spite of concerns about weather affecting such a manoeuvre, the clear skies — albeit windy and coolish — above the Calabash were eerily a no-fly zone ahead of the match. No skimming of the stadium roof here, where you could see the paint lift off the facade, or the vortex of the jet engines twirl and displace the firework smoke.
There will be no indignant social media experts or would-be pilots this week to debate and rage about the merits of nearly touching the exposed superstructure, or the level of endangerment to which the 88 000-plus fans who crammed into the venue were perceived to be exposed.
An opportunity lost to discuss the really important stuff … like the third Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry between the Springboks and All Blacks.
And boy, when there is no such distraction, you can really get into the meat and bones of all of it. This series has been an absolute humdinger — a relic of old, buried beneath a thick layer of the professional era, come alive after three riveting Tests.
Like the Balrog — Durin’s Bane — in Moria, disturbed by the Fellowship of the Ring, this concept has risen from the depths of living memory to remind us that, yes, there is a place for a long tour in the rugby calendar, and yes, if it involves the Boks and All Blacks, it will probably be of the outstanding variety.
Here are two sides with two different approaches that have entertained, pleased, wowed, delighted and frustrated, with drama aplenty on and off the field to reveal a rivalry alive, well, and truly special.
FNB Stadium played their part on the night, too. It’s a hallowed place that is cavernous and intimidating; it is easy to forget that you could fit Ellis Park and Orlando Stadium into the same space. It takes a moment to collect yourself once you walk into its bowl.
On Soweto Derby day, it is a celebration of South African football, but a house divided with either Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates heaving and gnashing to the highs of triumph or the ignominy of defeat. On Saturday, there was a singularity of purpose as a company of South Africans descended upon the famous ground.
Business had to be completed.
First, the Boks needed to “win” the series on home turf — which they did. Second, they needed to exorcise the demons of 2010 and 2012, when they lost here against the same opponents, and rectify an embarrassing record — which they also did; and third, they needed to correct a horrendous 8-2 record in the last 10 games on the Highveld against the visitors, which still has some way to go.
In many respects, it’s a pity the last match now moves to Baltimore in the US, where many a flyby expert had opinions last week regarding Cape Town's pre-match entertainment. It will decide if the Boks take the cup home complete, or if it will be split in two until 2030.
For the record, the three matches ended 33-16 to the All Blacks at Ellis Park, 33-26 to the Boks in Cape Town, and 29-24 at the Calabash; and it was worth every single one of the 240 minutes.
