‘Bok To Bok’, A Gripping Retelling Of The Springboks’ Tension-Filled Triumph At The 2023 Rugby World Cup
“IT’S OVER! THE SPRINGBOKS GO BACK-TO-BACK! THEY GO BOK TO BOK! THEY ARE THE FIRST TO FOUR!” No one will forget SuperSport commentator Matthew Pearce’s words of jubilation when Wayne Barnes blew the final whistle of the 2023 Rugby World Cup final. South Africa had just beaten old archrivals New Zealand 12-11 in an arm wrestle at the Stade de France in Paris that will go down in history as one of the tensest of all time in any sport, let alone rugby.
LEFT: Photographer Steve Haag autographs a copy of ‘Bok To Bok‘. RIGHT: 2023 Rugby World Cup winners Jaden Hendrikse and Grant Willemse flank Mike Greenaway, the book’s author.
For a few days going into the match and long thereafter, the hashtags #BokToBok and #Bok2Bok trended intermittently on various social media platforms as South Africans basked in the glory of their beloved green-and-gold defending the title that they won four years previously in 2019. This hashtag would plant the seed for the much anticipated release of Bok To Bok.
All of these copies of ‘Bok To Bok’ were snapped up during the KwaZulu-Natal launch of the book!
As per Exclusive Books’ website, the book details the electrifying Springbok campaign during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. It features respected rugby journalist Mike Greenaway‘s analysis as well as words from various Springbok players and coaches, perfectly complemented by the images of the legendary Steve Haag and other photographers.
Readers will discover the story behind the Boks’ rugby success in a riveting account showcasing their unwavering dedication to uplifting South Africans through the sport that they love. They will be diving into the heart of a team that plays not just to win, but to unite and inspire a nation.
Speaking exclusively to The Blindsided Rugby Man, Greenaway said of the book:
“As time goes by, what I have discovered, through being in rugby for 30-odd years, is that people do forget. You think that they won’t but they do. Putting this book together means that all those special moments are preserved for posterity. The best thing about writing this book was reliving those wonderful, wonderful moments and knowing just how it meant to South Africans.
“Every time I would get to a special thing that happened to get us over the line in those one-point games I would remember the joy in South Africa. When Eben Etzebeth scored that try against France and it spawned the ‘Elizabedi’ video by the young boy who became completely consumed by what Eben had done… for me it is about what the Springboks’ exploits meant for the country.”
The book’s KwaZulu-Natal launch was held at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium in Durban. Apart from Greenaway and Haag, special guests included 2023 gold medallists Eben Etzebeth, Lukhanyo Am (both winners in 2019), Andre Esterhuizen, Jaden Hendrikse and Grant Williams, all of whom are teammates at the Hollywoodbets Sharks. All seven of these gentlemen were on hand for impromptu autograph sessions of Bok To Bok, adding immeasurable value to the books that the other guests snapped up in next to no time.
If you want to get your hands on your own copy (or copies), visit www.boktobok.co.za. The book is also available at other retailers online and physical locations.To get a taste of what to expect, download a free chapter from the book here, which details the defending champions’ crucial opening Pool A match against a tricky Scotland side at the Stade de Marseille.
