South Africa's home away from home
Thu, 22 Sep 2011 7:00p.m.
Around 30,000 South Africans live on Auckland's North Shore (Reuters)
If there was ever a South African enclave in New Zealand, it would have be Auckland’s North Shore. At the moment, it is heaving with them.
With roughly 30,000 South Africans living there, tonight's match against Namibia is shaping up as a Bok home game.
It is hard not to bump into ex-pat South Africans, waxing lyrical about their new home.
“Having growing up in Durban, this was like Durban in the ‘60s, so it's like going back to my childhood again,” Corinne Kilian says.
It is that sort of reception that has the South African community positively buzzing for the game.
But if you were thinking tonight will be an African version of our own trans-Tasman rivalry, think again - it seems the relationship is not competitive cousins so much as supportive siblings.
And those worried about the reception our visiting rugby fans are getting, just need to listen to Anton Fortuin.
“The people are so friendly, especially up here in Auckland. It's just amazing, every second person stops you, talks to you about the rugby and they tell you ‘you must have a great time’, it's great, it's great to be here,” says Mr Fortuin.
As hosts, they are encouraging words to hear.
Watch the video.