Rassie, Rugby Emperor of ‘Dunefontein’, on the Golden Path

Morgan Bolton

THE Springboks looked into the belly of the beast and when it looked back, they needed more than a moment to overcome their fear.

In fact, by the end of their Rugby Championship clash at Ellis Park against the All Blacks last night, it should have swallowed them whole and spat them out, too.

The cauldron that is Ellis Park has not always been kind to the Boks when facing the All Blacks. Indeed, they men in Green and Gold have only beaten their great rivals once since 2010 in Johannesburg. For years, it has been the New Zealanders who have harvested the most valuable of commodities when travelling to Doornfontein.

A moment of levity between coach Rassie and skipper Kolisi after a tough Test v All Blacks@IOL@IOLsport @TheStar_news #SAvNZL pic.twitter.com/Aajkgi0vd3

— Morgan Bolton (@FreemanZAR) August 31, 2024

With less than 30 minutes to go, the Boks found themselves trailing 27-17, the Joburg crowd in a state of what can only be described as miffness. They hoped desperately for a turn in fortunes, and with the Boks’ hands firmly in the pain box and the Gom Jabbar – the high-handed enemy – perilously close to striking a fatal blow, with a poisoned needle they could only face their fears.

“We must not fear,” you imagine they chanted, while huddled under the poles after the New Zealanders took a 10-point lead.

“Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.

“We will face our fear. We will permit it to pass through and through us. And when it has gone past, we will turn the inner eye to see its path.

“Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only we will remain.”

Why recite the Litany of Fear, you ask?

Well, earlier in the day, a hack in New Zealand had described Bok coach Rassie Erasmus in unflattering terms, saying: “Is it just me, or is Erasmus looking every day more like Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, leader of the House of Harkonnen, from Dune?”

It's Familia... Siya on enjoying the National Anthem with sister in law and South African Olympic legend Tatjana Smith at Ellis Park earlier on Saturday@IOL @IOLsport @TheStar_news #SAvNZL pic.twitter.com/xm1fMADWnd

— Morgan Bolton (@FreemanZAR) August 31, 2024

If Erasmus is really Baron Harkonnen, does that make All Blacks coach Scott Robertson Duke Leto Atreides. Or perhaps he is the Kwisatz Haderach, the one that can be in many place at once.

It certainly seems that Robertson has been earmarked as some sort of saviour of All Blacks rugby – not that he needs such a heavy mantle around his neck, not after his nation has been such a dominant force in world rugby for so long.

In a battle of wits and wills between the two countries, more often than not the All Blacks have ruled the only currency valuable in this universe: Victories. Yesterday, the two mentats in Rassie and Razor had their plans, while canly – the old world for vendetta, so rich in tradition – had been declared while their warriors took to the field to execute their War of Assassins.

Before it was a matter of unstoppable Sardaukar warriors almost always eviscerating a lonely House without much chance of defeating them. But on this Saturday, at a raucous Ellis Park, the Boks fought back like Freman, defending their patch of earth until the final minute.

In years past, perhaps the Boks would have folded under the immense pressure exerted on them by a brave visiting team, but this South African team – back-to-back world champions – are filled with terrible purpose, much like the tyrannical sandworm – Shai-Hulud , blessed be his name, blessed be his coming and going – that reigns upon the eponymous Dune, Arrakis, desert planet, that that Kiwi pundit seems so pleased to allude to.

If Rassie and Co are indeed the House Harkonnen, then it is he who is on the Golden Path toward dominance.