Some call it the “Windy City”. Some call it South Africa’s toilet. Others say that if they were to turn one city in the entire country into a prison they would do it to Port Elizabeth.

However last year’s FIFA World Cup and the Tri-Nations test on 20 August have proven quite the contrary as PE lived up to its other tag “the Friendly City”.

The city and its people were applauded by the All Blacks, Springboks and the country as a whole. PE and the Eastern Cape have been starved of top class rugby for too long. The last rugby Test Match played here was against a mediocre Scottish side in 2006.

The move from the battered Boet Erasmus to the spectacular Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium built for the FIFA World Cup was a step in the right direction. This architectural marvel is set on the back-drop of the Indian Ocean and seats a capacity of 45600. Boet Erasmus seats only 35000.

Despite there being a sea of All Black supporters following the Kiwi’s around town for the week, there was no doubt who the home side was on match day. Green and gold covered the stadium and those who dared don a black jumper had abuse hurled at them from every which angle.

Although PE has had a horrible track record in the popular Idols singing contest, they certainly showed Ard Matthews and co how to sing the national anthem. Never in my life have I heard Nkosi Sikelelesung so loudly and with so much passion. The hairs on my neck stood to attention like a well-trained soldier.

The partisan Eastern Cape crowd drowned the intimidating All Black Haka with cries of “Olé! Olé! Olé!” It was memorable stuff. it was a moment in history to behold and almost an embarrassment to the South African Rugby Union who have snubbed the region for years.

The Boks are yet to lose to the All Blacks in PE. We have won five out of five matches in the Bay and boast an overall record of 16 tests with one loss and one draw. The only loss came in the infamous 1974 test against the British Lions, dubbed famously as “The Battle of the Boet”. The test was known for Lions captain Willie John MacBride calling a “99” whereby all Lions players would throw fists at the nearest South African in the hope that the referee could not send the entire team off. He did not and so ensued one of the most violent and hard fought test matches of all time.

PE is undoubtedly a Bok stronghold. With a world class stadium, as a top quality tourist destination and with a growing rugby franchise the Kings, there is no reason why PE should not host big games on an annual basis. The Tri Nations match showed a hunger for rugby in this province that is second to none.

No longer will EP suck on the hind tit, as we move forward into a new and exciting era of rugby with the probability of our very own Super Rugby franchise, the Southern Kings, emerging in 2013.

Tags:

Tri-Nations; Port Elizabeth; All Blacks; Boet Erasmus; Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium; Southern Kings; British Lions