Erasmus: Who are we to tell South Africans they can’t support the All Blacks?

Erasmus, the Springbok coach, has expressed no concerns about the large number of South Africans who continue to support the All Blacks during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour. This sentiment echoes the support South Africans showed for the All Blacks during the apartheid era, when many disenfranchised individuals backed the multi-racial teams.

Erasmus drew parallels to his own childhood experiences, reminiscing about the New Zealand Cavaliers series in 1986 and the 1981 tour to New Zealand, where he admired players like Murray Mexted and Zinzan Brooke. He stated that it's not unusual for South Africans to support teams other than the Springboks, citing examples from his coaching staff.

Erasmus believes that allowing this support, as long as it doesn't become ugly or personal, spiced up the competition. He acknowledged that political reasons or admiration for New Zealand's playing style were behind some South Africans' support for the All Blacks. Erasmus sees the growing enthusiasm for the traditional rivalry matches, such as the upcoming first Test between the Springboks and All Blacks, as beneficial for rugby, as it encourages more people to watch the sport.