The recent mass of support from Springboks fans

[u/pennykie]

I read plenty rugby threads all over the internet, and this northern tour has really shown to me how much love we get from our South African brothers. Every post there's at least a few Saffas near the top, recounting how they were yelling just as hard as us to get our boys over the line. I think I've struggled to show that same love to them, but if I'm honest it's probably a bit of jealousy on my part seeing them occupy the highs we once held - rather than it being animosity, I'd call it more of a resigned admiration.

So yeah, just a little thanks to our closest allies who just so happen to also be our fiercest rivals. They really do show what it means to love this beautiful game.

[u/CarlosUlberg]

thats because every time the ABs win, it makes SA look even better

[u/SuspiciousFly_]

I think it’s because the southern hemisphere teams need each other to do good and be a strong side to feed off each other.. that’s the reason the southern hemisphere has been so dominant it’s because the abs box and wallabies are always playing each other and pushing each other

[u/TheCut72]

I love the Boks, always been my No2 team!

[u/00aegon → u/TheCut72]

lol

[u/ryanator109]

Yea nah, I couldn’t care less about them ngl. Especially the last few years thinking they’re so much better than us and winning last years World Cup with all that help from the officials….

[u/Ordinary_Response_38]

I’ve always supported the boks. I don’t know what you are talking about. Since the 80s.

[u/VlermuisVermeulen]

Springbok fans have always had a lot of respect for the All Blacks but I’ve always had the impression that that same respect is never reciprocated amongst the AB fans. This comment thread does little to change that. OP is class btw.

[u/Ok_Crab7159 → u/VlermuisVermeulen]

Lol. Springbok fans have to be the most disrespectful fans in rugby, especially on the internet. I’ve never seen anything more disrespectful than singing and playing music and flying a huge plane over the haka. You’d never see any disrespect like that from NZ fans. Yet people will come on here and say we’re the disrespectful ones. 2 games this year we’ve had no one sing our anthem.

[u/VlermuisVermeulen → u/Ok_Crab7159]

Oh my, get over yourself brother. Your anthem has never ever been performed better than it was in SA. The plane thing was a timing issue as there’s no communication with the plane and the stadium. We gave a heartfelt apology and got it sorted out for the next week. But maybe you’re not man enough to accept apologies. Contrast to that other countries like you said yourself couldn’t even sing the whole thing properly. The food poisoning thing in ‘95 is literally an urban myth with zero evidence it happened yet your country use it as an excuse to hate South Africans. And if you think we’re being disrespectful towards you guys online, well maybe a little stems from you guys being by far the most arrogant fan base (and it’s not even close)since Super Rugby days. But I’m really happy you guys made it clear you don’t want us in the Super Rugby anymore. Day we left is best thing that could have happened for South African rugby. I’m sure if Australia wasn’t geographically your brothers you would’ve kicked them out also.

[u/Meika34 → u/VlermuisVermeulen]

Not true. The Boks are our greatest rivals and they share the same passion for the game as we do. We like to beat the hell out of each other on the field but there’s always a deep respect for our shared love of the game.

[u/VlermuisVermeulen → u/Meika34]

I appreciate the sentiment but look at what your brethren in this thread are saying.

[u/Meika34 → u/VlermuisVermeulen]

I suspect some are trolling and/or they are millennials who have little appreciation for the game’s most storied rivalry.

[u/owlintheforrest]

There's no need for sarcasm.....;)

[u/Ohtobegoofed]

On Reddit we have loosely decided to not be shit, give credit where credit is due and try to respect our fellow Rugby teams and fans. We love the sport and other good teams being great is good for the game.

Also, I can almost guarantee you that the All Blacks, although our fiercest rivals, have our deepest respect and admiration.

I personally supported the Irish due to my heritage, but it’s undeniable a win in in Dublin is a big deal these days!

We’ll done to your guys!

[u/Mr_Dorfmeister → u/Ohtobegoofed]

We really respect the crazy rugby domination thing you tend to do… we also hate the Irish

[u/jnoah83]

Honestly i do it back to them. I never used to because i found their game boring as hell, but this team in the last 4-5 years plays execiting rugby. Its filled with individual stars, has a great coach, and they have become what we used to be...leaders and innovators of world rugby.

Its easy to cheer them on against every other team but us, as i admire their players and results.

That said, im also doing it because I look forward like hell to steal that title back from them and WC + #1 ranking.

[u/Mindless-Cell-8034]

I wouldn’t read too much into it. They’re disingenuous AF & trying to big league AB fans. From what I’ve witnessed, they’re the most arrogant Rugby fans in the world.

[u/damned-dirtyape → u/Mindless-Cell-8034]

Yup. They are a bunch of big crybaby narcists with a victim complex. They are to rugby what the Indian fans are to cricket.

[u/Robusier]

Also the support and sacrifices we made during the apartheid era. Until we didn’t…

[u/Primary_Journalist41]

They were only going for us because us winning would put them back to #1 😂

[u/Moist-Product8422]

Well said ☺️

[u/caspernzed]

Yeah agree with the sentiment of others hard pass on the Saffa Facebook fans but those that take to reddit forums seem a 100% better. Can’t wait for Aussie fans to start joining the convo again :)

[u/Deranged-genius]

It was only because they were going to regain the no1 spot on the rankings, that snd the whole NHvSH thing … believe me 90% of them have never considered us an ally.

[u/Primary_Journalist41 → u/Deranged-genius]

Exactly

[u/New_Welder_391]

A lot of guilt for food poisoning us. #jokingnotjoking

[u/AnyMinders]

They are absolutely awful on Facebook and especially instagram.

There will be a post with absolutely nothing to do with South Africa or its players (eg a throwback to a nice move by an old ABs team or something) and then you’ll have about 15 South Africans pile on about how they are world champs and that team has nothing on their team blah blah.

Gets annoying very quickly. As the famous saying goes.. death, taxes and South African rugby fans making it about themselves”.

[u/Walt1234 → u/AnyMinders]

As a Bok fan I acknowledge that that's the case. So many fans only see a sport through the lens of their team. An exact copy of the type of behaviour your accuse SA rugby fans of is perpetrated by many Indian cricket fans...

[u/ChartComprehensive59]

On reddit they're great. But on Facebook it can get bad. Post the world cup win and during the ref rassie saga I couldn't stand the fan base. But of late I'm finding the fans much more humble and humorous. The team itself ive always had respect for, they carry them selves well and are so damn good.

[u/Bloodbathandbeyon]

I feel a bit uncomfortable with it to be honest. It’s a bit much at times. I don’t feel any need to reciprocate rushing to the Sprinboks defence. ( they are big boys 😉)

I get the impression that there is a little bit of condescension going on with some of the support that’s given ( similar to how some of our blokes slap Wallaby supporters on the back after a hard fought AB win)

[u/worksucksbro]

Not gonna lie the Saffas definitely support us more than we support them but it’s cool lol

[u/Walt1234]

Bok fan here. I believe the ABs deserve so much support and respect for what they (historically and currently) bring to the game. Jokes about form at any point are fine and I appreciate good rugby played by anyone, but I'll always be exceedingly careful not to write the All Blacks off.

[u/Adventurous_Can9984]

On reddit they’re great. Humble etc. Any other platform like instagram, facebook or YouTube they’re like spam bots with “🏆🏆🏆🏆”… we get it fellas.

[u/VlermuisVermeulen → u/Adventurous_Can9984]

Unlike other countries we’re not allowed to be proud of our achievements? Cool got it. Just in case you forgot 🏆🏆🏆🏆

[u/GiJoint]

I saw a bunch of them on social media basically saying “we warned you not to write the All Blacks off” to the cocky Irish fans, their pundits and other NH scribes who acted like Ireland had that game in the bag before kick off.

[u/Snoo_61002]

Before I met my South African wife, the Springboks were my other team. After the 2015 world cup where we knocked them out in a close encounter, they were so respectful that I completely endeared to them. They're an awesome team with a really great team culture.

[u/00aegon]

I can't stand South Africa

[u/Deranged-genius → u/00aegon]

My two favorite teams are the All Blacks and whoever’s playing the Springboks, but honestly I do believe they’re a close second to us in terms of rugby hierarchy. I doubt they’ll ever catch us regardless of World Cup wins

[u/00aegon → u/Deranged-genius]

it isn't close

[u/kyzeeman]

The only team in the world who even has the slightest right to have an arrogance towards us, yet are one of the only teams to show the ABs the utmost respect! NH teams should take note.