“But you’ve also got to remember that half of these [South African] players don’t come from altitude as well. They don’t live at altitude, but they seem to grow that extra energy from their fans at the stadium. Is it a mindset? Yeah, absolutely it’s a mindset.” Ellis Park is a cherished part of South African rugby history. It was the venue for the country’s first World Cup win, when former president Nelson Mandela wore the iconic Springbok jersey with the captain Francois Pienaar’s No.6 on the back. In a world of generic modern stadiums in plush suburbs, Ellis Park stands proudly apart. While most of South Africa’s business community deserted the city for the wealthy northern suburbs, the arena – less than two kilometres from the crime-ridden inner-city Johannesburg suburb of Hillbrow – remains a beacon for some of the most passionate supporters in world rugby. “The South African anthem will resonate, they are diehard supporters up on the Highveldt and that’s their number one game and their number one passion,” Burke said.