Siya Kolisi is spot-on when he says that, when the Springboks take the field tomorrow in Paris to play France in the quarterfinal of the Rugby World Cup, the side will be playing for 65 million South Africans.

When he says it, though, his words transcend our cynical politicians’ patriotic platitudes. This is a team which not only represents South Africa, it is also a vision of what this country could be …

if not for the machinations of those who will divide us. Race counts not in the searing heat of a bruising ruck.