Supersport press release:
Springbok Saga, the definitive documentation of South Africa’s rugby history from 1995 to 2007, has proved a huge hit among SuperSport viewers and the broadcast of the final episode of this popular programme is on SuperSport 1 at 9pm on Wednesday.
This week’s episode of this 13-year chronicle of the game in South Africa is a special, 80-minute programme (earlier episodes were 60 minutes in duration) capturing all the emotion around the Springboks’ World Cup victory in France last year.
In putting the Castle Lager-sponsored programme together, executive producer Gert Roets, editor Dawie Janse van Rensburg and presenters Dan Retief and Xola Ntshinga worked through hundreds of tapes of action and interviews during that 13 year period. Nearly 7000 hours of footage was condensed into the 13 episodes.
The success of the programme is largely due to the candid comments of the Springbok captains, from Francois Pienaar to John Smit. The other captains interviewed for the programme were Bob Skinstad, Corne Krige, Joost van der Westhuizen, Andre Vos and Gary Teichmann.
This week’s final programme, which will be celebrated with a special screening at the SAB World of Beer in Newtown, Johannesburg, at which most of the captains of the past 13 years will be present, includes great insights from Smit into what was the crowning glory for coach Jake White.
Presenter Retief said it was a privilege to have been involved in the programme. “It was an honour to have played a role in preserving such an important part of Springbok rugby history. Our victory in France in 2007 was a reminder of just what the Springboks can achieve.”
Roets, who described his involvement with the programme as “an emotional one”, said it was the “best project he had ever worked on.”
The Springbok captains down the years were unanimous in their praise of Springbok Saga:
Gary Teichmann: “It was great to be part of something that was put together so well. It is nice to have a programme about the history of the Boks and how they’ve done over the years.”
Joost van der Westhuizen: I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It is one of the most honest series I’ve seen. It is so nice to have a factual account of recent Springbok history . . . it is what people want to know about Bok rugby.”
Andre Vos: “Everyone I have spoken to says it is a huge hit. I thoroughly enjoyed what was a fantastic series. They guys who worked on it did a fantastic job. The behind-the-scenes stuff in the programme is great.”
Francois Pienaar: “I really enjoyed participating in the programme. It brought back tremendous memories of what were wonderful times. Everyone I have spoken to who has seen it thinks it is fantastic.”
Bobby Skinstad: “It is a great historical account of our very turbulent rugby history. The nice thing about it is that it covers the troubled times and the good times . . . I don’t think you should hide from the hard times because only good comes from enduring them.”
John Smit: “I loved the idea and the concept. The feedback on it has been helluva positive. There were good years to watch and hard years to watch . . . that’s what made it so special.”
Springbok Saga, the definitive documentation of South Africa’s rugby history from 1995 to 2007, has proved a huge hit among SuperSport viewers and the broadcast of the final episode of this popular programme is on SuperSport 1 at 9pm on Wednesday.
This week’s episode of this 13-year chronicle of the game in South Africa is a special, 80-minute programme (earlier episodes were 60 minutes in duration) capturing all the emotion around the Springboks’ World Cup victory in France last year.
In putting the Castle Lager-sponsored programme together, executive producer Gert Roets, editor Dawie Janse van Rensburg and presenters Dan Retief and Xola Ntshinga worked through hundreds of tapes of action and interviews during that 13 year period. Nearly 7000 hours of footage was condensed into the 13 episodes.
The success of the programme is largely due to the candid comments of the Springbok captains, from Francois Pienaar to John Smit. The other captains interviewed for the programme were Bob Skinstad, Corne Krige, Joost van der Westhuizen, Andre Vos and Gary Teichmann.
This week’s final programme, which will be celebrated with a special screening at the SAB World of Beer in Newtown, Johannesburg, at which most of the captains of the past 13 years will be present, includes great insights from Smit into what was the crowning glory for coach Jake White.
Presenter Retief said it was a privilege to have been involved in the programme. “It was an honour to have played a role in preserving such an important part of Springbok rugby history. Our victory in France in 2007 was a reminder of just what the Springboks can achieve.”
Roets, who described his involvement with the programme as “an emotional one”, said it was the “best project he had ever worked on.”
The Springbok captains down the years were unanimous in their praise of Springbok Saga:
Gary Teichmann: “It was great to be part of something that was put together so well. It is nice to have a programme about the history of the Boks and how they’ve done over the years.”
Joost van der Westhuizen: I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It is one of the most honest series I’ve seen. It is so nice to have a factual account of recent Springbok history . . . it is what people want to know about Bok rugby.”
Andre Vos: “Everyone I have spoken to says it is a huge hit. I thoroughly enjoyed what was a fantastic series. They guys who worked on it did a fantastic job. The behind-the-scenes stuff in the programme is great.”
Francois Pienaar: “I really enjoyed participating in the programme. It brought back tremendous memories of what were wonderful times. Everyone I have spoken to who has seen it thinks it is fantastic.”
Bobby Skinstad: “It is a great historical account of our very turbulent rugby history. The nice thing about it is that it covers the troubled times and the good times . . . I don’t think you should hide from the hard times because only good comes from enduring them.”
John Smit: “I loved the idea and the concept. The feedback on it has been helluva positive. There were good years to watch and hard years to watch . . . that’s what made it so special.”