The Stormers face the The All Blacks' Haka ahead of the opening match of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday evening.
Captain Ruhan Nel had planned to sing the national anthem with his Stormers teammates against the All Blacks, but when the moment arrived, he decided to stay quiet — fearing the emotion would overcome him in front of his home crowd in Cape Town.
Nel, who was one of the Stormers’ experienced campaigners in the 38-21 loss, admitted the occasion at a packed DHL Stadium on Friday evening was simply too much to take in, while teammate Hacjivah Dayimani sang Nkosi Sikilel’ iAfrika with tears in his eyes.
For many of the Stormers, including Nel and Dayimani, this was probably the first and final time they got to sing the anthem in Fifteens rugby during the opening match of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
“It’s really special. I think there’s not a lot of the boys who ever had the opportunity to sing the national anthem before a game,” Nel said.
