The first to appear at the post-match press conference after the Super 14 final was poor old Ian Foster, the coach of the Chiefs, who had just gone down by eight tries and a record score, 61-17, to the Bulls. "I was enjoying everything," he said. "Until kick-off."

For a long time, nobody from the winning team appeared. The celebrations down on the field had been protracted, the lap of honour prolonged.

Finally, in came the coach, Frans Ludeke, but not on his own. With him were eight of his stellar players. "This was never about me," said Ludeke, criticised ever since he took over from Heyneke Meyer, who had left to be, briefly, coach of Leicester. "This was always about this team ..."

Wynand Olivier, who had only just recovered in time from a hip injury to be selected in the centre, had been voted man of the match. Did he think there was a sense of being on a roll from the start? "Well, the Chiefs scored the first try, which was a blow. But once we got going, yeah, I'd say we caught fire."

Olivier scored one of the late tries after a typical burst through the midfield. He may not make the Springbok team to face the Lions, though, since Jean De Villiers is even more forthright in midfield.

The No8 Pierre Spies will play against the Lions. He had complained the week before about feeling tired. As he ran 80 metres for the interception try at the death did he have similar worries? "I guess not. One week on, one week fitter."

Chiliboy Ralepelle and Gurthro Steenkamp said very little at all. It is the way of front row forwards and they seemed to mind not at all. They just sat there looking happy and menacing, another way of hookers and props.

Bryan Habana had scored two tries, revealing his extreme pace. The stadium rose long before he reached the line, knowing that nobody would catch him. "This is a very special family," he said, referring to the team, the management and the 52,000 supporters who had turned the Loftus Versfeld Stadium into a cauldron of blue, the colour of the Bulls.

Fourie Du Preez sat head down. He had done his talking on the field, the scorer of two rapid-fire tries straight after the Chiefs' opening score. He had been artful, exploiting the experimental law variation that turned most penalties into free-kicks. His tap and go had set the Bulls rolling. Mercifully for the Lions, that ELV has gone. But Du Preez is a consummate player under any regulations.

Dewald Potgieter, the 22-year old blond prodigy at openside flanker, said he was privileged simply to be part of the Bulls. He needs to fill out a bit – he was ferociously handed off by Lelia Masaga once – but when he does he will be a Springbok for many years.

That left the captain, who has been an international for a long time: Victor Matfield. He said that it had not been a perfect performance. He himself had missed a tackle on Masaga for the try. "But ..."

But after that, victor Victor, you were astonishing. The lock ruled the lineout, although Bakkies Botha, another whom the Lions will meet, nearly matched him on the Chiefs' throw. Matfield had delivered inch-perfect passes in midfield and had dived over a ruck and stretched out a telescopic arm for a try of his own.

Surely, now the Bulls had to become Springboks, they could not keep going at this level. Victor smiled wolfishly. "We start at zero again," he said. "We will use this as a stepping stone for the Boks."