While many South Africans will be gearing up to wear green and gold this weekend in support of the Springboks, others will be backing New Zealand’s All Blacks.
The rugby rivals will clash in two Rugby Championship matches on 31 August and 7 September at the Ellis Park Stadium (now Emirates Airline Park) and the DHL Stadium, respectively.
CELEBS WHO SUPPORT THE ALL BLACKS
South Africans on social media have been vocal about their disdain for fellow citizens who choose to support the All Blacks over the Springboks.
Those who do support New Zealand have made it known that their loyalty to the Kiwis either stems from SA’s political history or simply their love of the team’s style.
One of the biggest and most outspoken All Blacks supporters in South Africa is music producer Prince Kaybee.
“Looking forward to this game,” the muso tweeted this week.
Prince Kaybee previously revealed why he supported the New Zealand national team over his own.
He tweeted: “I support the All Blacks because of their style of play, adaptive planning with sheer brilliance of ‘ball in hand’ and the support they show the ball carrier is exceptional.”
He added: “I’m just not into kick rugby. Sorry if my preference offends you.”
Podcaster Penuel Mlotshwa and his brother Penson are also both ardent All Blacks supporters.
Penson said in a video clip, “I don’t support New Zealand. I just support this team because they are amazing and exciting.”
For his sibling Penuel, the support was much deeper.
He tweeted during the 2023 Rugby World Cup: “The Springboks were seen as a white Afrikaner team and one of the last powerful symbols of Apartheid.
As much as all of us black and coloured players wanted to don the green and gold because it was the highest honour within SA… we knew we weren’t really wanted within that institution.
“Almost all black and coloured players looked up to the New Zealand All Blacks. We all identified with them. They represented us”.
‘A DEEP CONNECTION’
Away from SA, celebs like actors Jason Momoa and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and even singer Taylor Swift are big All Blacks supporters.
According to Stuff, Jason is a big supporter of the New Zealand team and is friends with many of the rugby players. He’s visited the country numerous times and has even assisted in educating his followers about cultural Maori practices.
When asked what he loved most about New Zealanders, Jason told the publication: “We look the same, like brothers and sisters, right? I look around at people on the street and think, ‘Oh, that’s my uncle, that’s my auntie,’ … so I have a deep connection because of my Polynesian roots.”
jason momoa, rugby world cup, all blacks
Jason Momoa showed his support to the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup opening match. Images via Twitter: @prifeofgypsies/ @bcrugbyunion
WILL YOU BE SUPPORTING THE ALL BLACKS OR THE SPRINGBOKS THIS WEEKEND?