REVIEW: 'Chasing the Sun 2' hailed as "amazing show" giving viewers "insider Springboks access"
Catch it on Sundays at 8pm on Showmax.
Springboks rejoice after clinching their record fourth World Rugby Cup win in France on 28 October 2023. Picture: GCIS
Lester Kiewit speaks to Hanayani Shimange from Elim, former Springbok, SuperSport commentator, and host of YouTube rugby channel, 'The Box Office', for a review on 'Chasing the Sun 2'.
Bad reviews first, Kiewit says the only bad thing about this doccie series is that you have to wait a week between episodes.
Currently, 'Chasing the Sun 2' is on episode three, with upcoming episodes airing Sundays at 8pm on Showmax.
Both 'Chasing the Sun' and 'Chasing the Sun 2' are documentary series about the journey the Springboks take to two Rugby World Cup champions.
The two series allow viewers insider-access to the sport, players, Rassie Erasmus' coaching style, and his ability to 'channel energy in the right direction'. This is 'massive and unprecedented' for the sport, explains Shimange.
If you're wondering where the mystery of the show is, since we know how the games will end, Shimange says it's all in the editing, getting to know the real story behind each player, what happens in locker rooms during half time, how the team stays motivated for their country, and learning what every moment was like getting us to be world champions.
"It's up to the final edit and how they join the dots and put the puzzle together, [that] is the surprise."
- Hanayani Shimange
"It's also about seeing how things can change during a game, how strategies change during the game, and how decisions are made. We see every little moment we won that took us to the final."
- Hanayani Shimange
"The show also brings personality to the game. The stories and backgrounds of the players make it real, you understand what drives them. You see their personality. You get to know the players, you see what playing rugby means for Libbok, Mbonambi and every player, and what winning the World Cup meant."
- Hanayani Shimange
"It's also interesting to see how Rassie uses the reality of South African experiences to motivate the team, which helped with the support from South Africans for the Springboks."
- Hanayani Shimange
Shimange says it's exciting to see how rugby is growing in parts of America and Portugal.
But it's even more exciting waiting in anticipation for the test match between the Springboks and All Blacks on 7 September at Cape Town Stadium.
Overall, 'it's an absolutely amazing show' and highly recommended.