Nelspruit's spine-tingling SA anthem moves Springboks: 'You could hear the passion'

In Mbombela

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi was left spellbound by the overwhelming support they received at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.

It spurred the Boks to a 26-10 win against the All Blacks, their first against their rivals at home in eight years.

The Boks delivered a performance that was as physical as it was passionate, giving the All Blacks no respite on a day where a lot of things went right for Jacques Nienaber's side.

READ | Boks break 8-year hoodoo in physical style with profound manhandling of All Blacks

Kolisi himself was industrious, but the endearing and enduring support they received from the 42 387 and the rest who watched and listened elsewhere stayed with him.

"I just don’t know how South African people do it," Kolisi said

"The way they turn up with everything that’s going on in our country.

"People who can still afford it, still come along and still full up the stadium for us and it means the world to us as a team.

"Running out and hearing people screaming like that it drives us as a team. That’s what Jacques [Nienaber] always reminds us: 'It’s not about me'. If I make a mistake, I must keep on going because it’s about the people who are coming each and every time to watch us play.

"I hope we made them proud today, because they definitely got us going from the anthem onwards."

A stirring rendition of our national anthem.It's the best I've ever heard in my 10 years of covering Test, and I've been to every ground except Cape Town Stadium and Bloemfontein. Ellis Park, the bar has been raised.@Sport24news pic.twitter.com/8SrYycsvtv

While the crowd was enthralled by Pumas' Currie Cup winning coach Jimmy Stonehouse's brilliant 'Sweet Caroline', it was the national anthem that really set the tone for the game.

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