#WATCH - Kolisi on Cape's All Black fans: 'No bad feelings'
Nothing divides the city of Cape Town like a good old Springboks versus All Blacks Test match.
The Springboks is by far South Africa’s most-loved entity.
Since Siya Kolisi lifted the World Cup Cup for the first time in 2019 in Japan, the team has crept into the hearts of rugby fans and South Africans alike.
They took their fandom to the next level when they beat the old foe, the All Blacks, in the 2023 World Cup Final.
This weekend, the two will add another chapter to their rich rivalry when they clash in Cape Town, a city where the All Blacks have enjoyed considerable support over the years.
The support for New Zealand and even their Super Rugby teams stems from different reasons, with the most significant being the South Africans’ decision to support All Blacks instead of the then all-white Springboks during the apartheid.
Since then the make-up of the South African team has changed with players of colour like Kolisi, Lukhanyo Am, Bongi Mbonambi, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, just to name a few, all wearing the green and gold.
Recently Salmaan Moerat became the first Muslim player to lead the Boks – another significant moment for the history books.
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But despite the look of the modern Springboks and their incredible performance in claiming a record fourth World Cup, there are still fans that support the arch-rivals – the All Blacks.
In the lead-up to the match, captain Kolisi stated there are various reasons for the support the All Blacks get in Cape Town.
But he has called for respect from the different sides at the Cape Town Stadium which will host its first Springbok versus All Blacks showdown.
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“This is going to be a great occasion,” said Kolisi.
“We would obviously like as many South African supporters there as possible, but we have to respect all the supporters that are coming to watch. We have seen people fly in from New Zealand.
“I think coach Rassie Erasmus explained in an interview we have to respect everybody. There are reasons behind their views and it is nice that those types of things are explained to us – we respect that.
“We want to play as best as we can. People paid to see us and hopefully, one or two people can turn and support us.
“But no bad feelings…as long as they support us when we play someone else.”
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick dismissed the notion that it would be a ‘home’ game for the All Blacks.
“We haven’t played a lot of games against the All Blacks here in Cape Town.
“The last one was in 2017, and now if you look at the team and what we stand for, I think the timing of bringing the game back into Cape Town.
“We respect people’s opinions and I have friends that I grew up that used to tell me more about All Blacks, but not some of them are in our corner.
“And the best we can do is to make a difference between the four lines.
“It is going to be a great vibe and I know one thing for sure, we are playing at home and our people will be behind us.”
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