Griquas’ class of 2026 could have slain All Blacks giants again

Last Friday night, Griquas defeated the Sharks XV by a margin of over 50 points in Kimberley. Three days prior, the All Blacks achieved the same feat in Durban. However, the Sharks managed to score in Kimberley, contrasting with their performance at Kings Park, where they suffered a whitewash. Motshidisi Mohono, a SuperSport presenter, tweeted, "Faf and the Cheetahs would’ve scored," sparking a discussion about the Sharks' underperformance.

This situation highlights the fact that money cannot buy success in sports, which seems to be the root of all evil according to the fans' response after the rebranding of the Sharks.

In the 1990s, Kimberley, a city outside Cape Town, experienced a surge of excitement when the All Blacks visited. The Diamond Fields Advertiser, a local newspaper, dubbed the All Blacks as "giant-killers" before their arrival. In 1996, Griquas, coached by the legendary Andre Markgraaff, managed to hold the All Blacks to an 18-18 draw, becoming the only provincial side to achieve such a feat. The All Blacks had dominated their opponents, including Boland, Western Province, and Natal, with scores ranging from 32-21 to 43-40.

Imagine the anticipation and memories in Bloem or Kimberley if the All Blacks hosted the match in 1996. These two unions no longer get to host major games, as Hoffe Park typically hosted South Africa A v England in 1994, followed by the British & Irish Lions in 1997 and the Irish the following year. Presently, United Rugby Championship sides engage in matches but often field undercooked teams and complain about pre-season pressures and lackluster attendance.

If the All Blacks had visited Kimberley in 1996, their opponents would have been left wondering about the experience.