Springboks vs All Blacks: SA's secret weapon? Selim Kagee to sing NZ anthem

Pippa Hudson interviews singer Selim Kagee, who will perform New Zealand's anthem, "God Defend New Zealand," at the Springbok game in Cape Town on Saturday.

Listen below.

There's nothing quite like the overwhelming sense of unity and pride that washes over you as your country comes together to sing its national anthem with heartfelt passion.

The collective spirit and patriotism in those moments are truly unforgettable.

This Saturday, Selim Kagee will take centre stage to perform New Zealand's anthem, "God Defend New Zealand," before the thrilling clash between the Boks and All Blacks in their second Rugby Championship showdown.

Trained in classical singing, his music blends original compositions with unique takes on popular classics, infused with elements of pop, classical, and cinematic styles.

This eclectic mix allows his voice to shine with exceptional warmth, sincerity, and presence.

And adding to the excitement, South Africa will be represented by former Primedia star Tarryn Lamb, who will deliver a stirring rendition of the South African national anthem.

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Landing the gig

Kagee shares that after one of his performances, the events manager of SA Rugby approached him and insisted he sing the national anthem.

Shortly after, he was flown to Perth, Australia for a weekend to perform.

Although South Africa lost that match, Kagee humorously notes that it has become a running joke: whenever he sings the anthem, the team tends to lose.

This playful trend continued when he was invited to sing the Welsh anthem in South Africa on two occasions, and both times, the Welsh team came up short.

"When they need to win a big match, they bring me in."

- Selim Kagee, local artist

Tackling the New Zealand national anthem

Kagee recounts the challenge of learning the national anthem, which features both English and Māori lyrics, phonetically.

After weeks of dedicated practice, overcoming mistakes, and persistent effort, his pronunciation has been officially approved by the New Zealand team, he says.

Ironically, Kagee finds performing for large crowds, like those in stadiums, to be a peaceful experience.

In contrast, he says that he feels that performing for smaller, more intimate audiences is often more intense and every move is put under a microscope.

"We're all good to go, I'm looking forward to it."

- Selim Kagee, local artist

Kick-off is at 5pm.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.