As the Stormers prepare to face the All Blacks XV, I reflect on a remarkable 50-year journey of friendship, family, journalism and the greatest rivalry in world rugby.
On Friday night, the DHL Stormers will run out at DHL Stadium to face the All Blacks XV, marking the beginning of another chapter in what many believe is the greatest rivalry in world rugby.
For most South Africans, supporting the Springboks is almost a birthright.
For me, however, it has always been different.
For more than 50 years I have proudly supported the All Blacks. It has never been about looking for an argument or wanting South Africa to lose or being anti-Springbok. It has always been about one childhood moment that shaped my life forever.
A 12-year-old boy at the Arthur’s Seat Hotel
It all began in 1976.
My late father, Dr Horatio (Bullet) Myers, a respected Cape Town medical doctor, was seconded to assist the touring All Blacks during their controversial South African tour.
The team stayed at the Arthur’s Seat Hotel in Sea Point.
I was twelve years old, a pupil at SACS, rugby mad, and suddenly found myself spending time with players I had only ever read about.
Dad introduced me to captain Andy Leslie, Graham Mourie, Sid Going, Bryan Williams and the rest of that famous side.
I still treasure a personal letter from Andy Leslie and a rugby ball signed by the entire 1976 squad.
For a young boy, those moments were magical.
They never left me.
Every time the haka begins today, I am transported back to the corridors of that hotel, standing beside my father and watching my heroes walk past.
My father never really left
Many years later, during an interview on my CapeTalk programme The Business of Entertainment, life coach Ian Martin asked me why I still supported the All Blacks after all these years.
His answer surprised me.
He said my support wasn’t really about rugby.
It was about my father.
Every time I watched the All Blacks, Ian suggested, I was reconnecting with those precious memories of Dad, who passed away far too young.
The smell of the hotel.
The excitement of meeting the players.
The feeling of belonging.
The older I get, the more I realise he was right.
The day I found my rugby voice
Although I only played rugby for the SACS Under-14 C and D teams, I fell in love with the game itself.
Years later that passion found another outlet.
On 19 July 2003, the All Blacks demolished South Africa 52-16 in Pretoria, then the Springboks’ heaviest defeat against New Zealand. John Mitchell’s side scored seven tries as Carlos Spencer orchestrated a masterclass.
That unforgettable afternoon inspired me to start doing regular rugby commentary on radio.
It eventually became part of my long-running Saturday morning programme on Heart 104.9FM with Tapfuma Makina and Flapper, a show that lasted sixteen wonderful years. We talked great sport for the everyday sports fan
It also introduced me to one of my closest lifelong friends, Raymond Alexander who was a regular listener to Heart, can’t help him that he supports Liverpool too.
Rugby has a remarkable way of bringing people together.
Meeting Mike Greenaway
Another life-changing rugby moment happened in 1996.
I was working for BMG Records when I attended a national marketing conference.
Sitting next to me was another BMG representative from Durban named Mike Greenaway.
During one of the presentations Mike suddenly packed up his notebook.
“I’ve got to rush,” he said.
“I’ve got a radio interview with Mark Andrews.”
I looked at him in disbelief.
“The Springbok lock?”
“Yes,” Mike replied matter-of-factly. “I’m also the rugby writer for Independent Newspapers.”
That conversation changed everything.
Mike was already building what would become one of South Africa’s most respected careers in rugby journalism, eventually touring with the Sharks and Springboks across the world and writing several acclaimed rugby books, including Captain in the Cauldron (published in November 2009) and later The Fireside Springbok.
These pics are from the Captain Launch at Cavendish Square
Nearly thirty years later, we’re still the best of friends.
Collecting rugby history
Because of Mike, I have been fortunate to experience rugby in ways I could never have imagined.
One of my prized possessions is a Loftus Versfeld programme signed by the entire All Blacks squad that became the first New Zealand team to win a Test series in South Africa.
On 24 August 1996, Sean Fitzpatrick’s men beat the Springboks 33-26 at Loftus to secure a historic 2-0 series victory, highlighted by Zinzan Brooke’s unforgettable drop goal. It remains one of New Zealand rugby’s defining achievements.
Over the years I have collected signed All Black jerseys, countless player autographs and memories that money simply cannot buy.
One interview stands above all others.
In 2011, before the Rugby World Cup, I sat down in Cape Town with Richie McCaw while the Crusaders were touring South Africa.
It remains one of the longest and most personal interviews he gave during that period, and is still one of the highlights of my journalism career.
Looking back through old magazines this week, I smiled as I found several of my own rugby features from those years — my “60 Seconds” interviews with Richie McCaw, Ali Williams and John Smit, along with opinion pieces and rugby columns.
Those pages remind me how fortunate I have been to tell stories about the sport I love.
I have been to NZ for the 2011 World Cup – This is before the Boks vs Wales at the Cake Tin in Wellington
This is with my dear friend Stuart Rubin in Sydney
A promise after my mother died
When my mother, Lotti, passed away in August 2001, I phoned Mike, who was touring Australia with the Springboks.
He immediately said:
“Come on an end-of-year tour. I’ll organise tickets.”
True to his word, I travelled to Twickenham with Alan Locketz, Tony Sten and Rael Gootkin.
We watched one of the darkest days in Springbok history as England defeated South Africa 53-3 on 23 November 2002, with Corné Krige captaining the Boks.
On that trip Mike made me another promise.
He laughed and said:
“We’ll go to every All Blacks game in South Africa in honour of your mom.”
We’ve done our best ever since, even going to Bloemfontein to see the All Blacks get smashed and Durban the following week for part 2 of the All Blacks losing tour. Those matches were part of the 2009 Tri Nations, when the Springboks beat the All Blacks in back-to-back Tests
27 June 2009 – Bloemfontein (Vodacom Park) Springboks 28 – 19 All Blacks
18 July 2009 – Durban (Kings Park) Springboks 31 – 19 All Blacks
Never mind Rustenburg where Andre Pretorius saved the day for Jake White.
More than rugby
One of my proudest moments came years later when I arranged for Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse to perform the South African national anthem before a Springbok-All Blacks Test at Soccer City.
It remains one of the finest anthem performances I’ve ever witnessed.
In many ways, it perfectly sums up my rugby journey.
I can admire the All Blacks while still celebrating South African music.
I can wear black one weekend and proudly promote South African artists the next.
The two have never been mutually exclusive.
Fifty years later
People still ask me why I support New Zealand.
The answer is simple.
Because every All Black match reminds me of my father.
Because rugby introduced me to lifelong friends like Mike Greenaway.
Because it opened doors into journalism, broadcasting and storytelling.
Because the game has given me experiences that few people are lucky enough to enjoy.
As another chapter of rugby’s greatest rivalry begins, I’ll once again be wearing black.
Not because I don’t love South Africa.
But because one remarkable week in 1976, a father took his twelve-year-old son to meet the All Blacks.
Some moments shape a lifetime.
That was mine.
And this pic was a few months ago in Johannesburg with the Green catching up
And now this tour starts on Friday and The All Blacks need all the help they can get – Maybe he can play …..
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that his team will embrace the occasion at DHL Stadium.
“This is history in the making as the DHL Stormers take on New Zealand for the first time, and our team is determined to make it one to remember for our fans.
“For a club side to take on an international team ranked second in the world is a massive opportunity and one that every player and management member is looking forward to,” he said.
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Wandile Mlaba, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
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