Joubert shows his hand and Bok spirit

"SOMETIMES I could feel the bones moving but there was little pain.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

Those were the understated words of Andre Joubert after he had miraculously played a 1995 Rugby World Cup final and semi-final with three broken bones in his left hand.

Joubert's Springbok coach, Kitch Christie, put his modest fullback's achievement into a superman perspective.

"The guy is not human. I cannot believe such bravery," said Christie.

Typically, Christie was economical when it came to lavishing praise on his players in public, so that was a telling statement.

Just seven days before the Boks' semi-final against France, the team had played a quarter-final against the rugged Samoans at Ellis Park. Ten minutes into the game, Joubert had run past wing George Harder. The wing had shot out a fist in frustration straight into Joubert's left hand.

Later, the severity of the injury would be revealed but, amazingly, Joubert had the hand strapped and continued playing, only to be laid out 10minutes later in a high and late tackle by Samoa fullback Mike Umaga.