Springboks nominated for International Emmy Award while they defend their world title

While the Springboks sweat over the possibility of being automatically knocked out of the Rugby World Cup this weekend, the defending champions welcomed news of being nominated at this year’s International Emmy Awards.

The Two Sides documentary, which is a three-part behind-the-scene series on the historic 2021 British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa is nominated in the Best Sports Documentary category.

The International Emmy Awards honour excellence in TV programming produced and initially aired outside the US; unlike the more popular Emmy Awards that recognize excellence within various areas of television and emerging media.

The 51st International Emmy Awards Gala will take place in New York City on 20 November.

An inside peak

The doccie was a co-production between Mzansi production company T + W together with Wales-based Whisper Cymru. The documentary was commissioned by, and made in conjunction with, the British & Irish Lions and the South African Rugby Union.

In one of the scenes, inside the Bok changing room lock Eben Etzebeth is seen motivating his teammates after a sloppy half.

“Do your job man. That’s all we want for 40 minutes, can we show them why we’re the best in the world,” said Etzebeth.

“One thing the jersey does is tell us what we’re about, go and show us today,” British & Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones averred to his troops before a game.

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The documentary explores what transpired in the Springbok and Lions’ camps during the 2021 Tour of South Africa, doubly challenged at the height of the Covid pandemic.

It told the story from the Springbok and Lions camp perspectives featuring fly-on-the-wall footage of both camps as they took part in a series played behind closed doors and massively complicated by outbreaks of Covid in both camps.

The series was broadcast by M-Net and SuperSport in South Africa, followed by ITV, UK and Virgin One, Ireland in the first half of 2022. The series attracted much social media interest and media attention.

Two Sides is nominated alongside Mexico’s 30 Dias Para Ganar, the story of Paralympic downhill skiers; Alexia: Labor Omnia Vincit (Spain) the Barcelona and Spanish footballer; and Harley & Katya (Australia) about the figure skating pair.

With the Rugby World Cup currently happening in France, it’s expected that the Boks will walk away with the Emmy.

Reunited

An excited Siya Kolisi welcomed fellow Bok Lukhanyo Am back to the camp on Wednesday, after he was called-up to replace the injured Makazole Mapimpi.

“Lukhanyo arrived today (Wednesday) and did some light field work with us, so we’ll see how he goes in the next few days,” said assistant coach Felix Jones.

“He’s an experienced player and he’s been part of the group for many years, so we’ll bank on his experience and his ability to do the job for us.”

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