The All Blacks have settled into Cape Town, the first stop of their five-week tour of South Africa, after an enthusiastic welcome from up to 5000 mostly local supporters – to the annoyance of some Springboks fans.
The welcome at DHL Stadium, the venue of the All Blacks’ first match of the tour against the Stormers on Saturday morning NZT, was a free event organised by South Africa Rugby – highlighting the city’s depth of feeling for the touring side that originated in many cases from South Africa's divided past.
While the Springboks are now a symbol of a united South Africa with a selection policy to match, that has not always been the case.
During the apartheid era, many of those from the coloured communities supported the All Blacks because the Boks were seen as a white person's team and a symbol of discrimination.
'Cape Crusaders' continue to be enthused
This feeling grew due to the actions of those Kiwis who protested against South Africa’s tour of New Zealand in 1981.
Now, the "Cape Crusaders" – the term given to those Cape Town fans of New Zealand’s Crusaders and the All Blacks – continue the tradition.
From an All Blacks' perspective, this squad of 44 players will take any support they can get on a gruelling seven-match tour, which includes three Tests.
“We take a lot of pride in being a rugby nation ourselves, but I think we’ve been trumped and it’s pretty evident today,” hooker Codie Taylor, the All Blacks’ “tour captain” in the absence of Ardie Savea, said at the welcome.
'It still astounds me to see Saffas support another country'
Some Boks fans expressed their annoyance on social media at the continued enthusiasm for the All Blacks. They believe all South Africans should unite behind a team captained by Siya Kolisi, a black South African, which features many other players who reflect the modern nation.
Brenden Nel, a South African rugby writer, wrote on X: “I know people have the right to support whoever they want, but given everything [coach] Rassie [Erasmus] and Siya’s Boks have achieved, what they mean for the majority of this country, it still astounds me to see Saffas support another country against their own.”
Nel, by no means a lone voice, added later: "Getting a lot of vitriol on my comment on the All Black local supporters. They are free to support who they like. I don’t get it but it’s their choice. But if your reason is based someone else’s hatred, that is on you. This Bok team is based on mutual respect and talent.”
It should be noted, too, that among the cheers of support for the All Blacks at the event were protests about the ticket prices. The All Blacks return to Cape Town for the second of the three Tests on August 30 NZT. Ticket prices for the Tests range from just over $NZ40 to $NZ400.
Could SA be trying to lull the All Blacks?
In any case, the All Blacks should make the most of it while they can. With matches in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg to come, future welcomes will be less enthusiastic – to put it mildly.
There is no doubt this tour, dubbed the “Greatest Rivalry”, has huge significance for the game in South Africa and indeed the union hosting it, and no one should be surprised if the intention was to lull the tourists into a false sense of security.
In an interview with New Zealand reporters last night, Taylor said: “Man, the fans over here are a whole other level. It’s impressive to see and we know we have a lot of support here.”
Taylor, and assistant coach Jason Ryan who was also on the media call, spoke about the challenges ahead featuring big and uncompromising players and the importance of starting the tour well. The All Blacks play a fourth Test against the world champions in Baltimore, USA, on September 6.
“Massive respect – they’re the best in the world,” Ryan said of the Boks’ forwards. “They’re a big pack, they know clearly what their identity is around their scrum and maul. Us having genuine preparation around that is important but also the opportunity to think a bit differently and learn from a couple of tough old lessons we’ve had in the past when playing the Boks.”
Mo'unga making the right moves at home
Taylor said: “There’s a lot of excitement in the group. We’re not fooling ourselves and thinking it’s going to be easy. It’s not – South Africa at home is probably the biggest challenge we’ll face in our rugby careers. It’s exciting and we’re ready to get into it.”
Taylor, who will miss the first game at least due to a calf niggle but is back running and may be in line for the second against the Sharks in Durban on August 12, was also asked about his former Canterbury, Crusaders and All Blacks teammate Richie Mo’unga, who made a key intervention on his return to the red and blacks at the weekend.
“Who else but [Richie] to get the job done? It’s awesome to see him back in New Zealand. It’s been a long time. I know he’s been really excited to get back in the red and black hoops. It’s good to see him get the job done.
“He seems to be one of those people – good things happen around him or he creates them. Hey, he’s done it for a long time and we witnessed that again.”
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