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JOHANNESBURG - South Africans jubilantly celebrated and predicted a second World Cup triumph after the Springboks reached the final after defeating Argentina.
South African newspapers splashed their front pages with banner headlines following the 37-13 semifinal defeat of the Pumas in Paris on Monday (NZ time).
They now face an England team they trounced 36-0 in the pool stage and have the opportunity to emulate the 1995 South African side who won the tournament on home soil.
"Cup glory beckons" was the banner headline in Johannesburg daily The Star.
The ruling ANC called on all South Africans to wear Springbok jerseys and said the team have performed outstanding during the whole tournament.
"We join millions of South Africans who are celebrating not only yesterday's victory in the semifinals against Argentina, but the outstanding performance that the team has shown so far in the Rugby World Cup tournament in France, said ANC spokesman Tiyani Rikhotso.
"We call on all South Africans to put on their Boks jerseys as we cheer them to another victory and bring the cup home," Rikhotso added.
Politicians have in the past said there are too few blacks in the South African team and called for the team to be more representative of the black majority population.
But ordinary South Africans said a Springbok victory will invigorate the country and revive the country's sporting spirit ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup to be held in South Africa.
"England is going to give us a run for our money but a win is going to uplift the country," said Adheesh Surrayan.
"The final is a walk over, we are going to beat them, I am positive and 100 per cent behind the Boks and I think it will be good for 2010," said Vusi Malinga.
Afrikaans-language Johannesburg daily Beeld crowed "Eindstryd toe!" (to the final) above a picture of a flying Bryan Habana, who was also the focus of the front page of Die Burger in Cape Town, which gushed, "Halala Habana!" (hail Habana).
- REUTERS
