All Blacks fans have revisited a long-running rumour that the Springboks were behind an alleged food poisoning incident involving the rugby rivals ahead of the 1995 World Cup at Ellis Park Stadium.
The comments were made in the lead-up to the highly anticipated game between South Africa and New Zealand on Saturday, 6 September. The match will take place at Eden Park, where the host country has an impressive winning streak.
ALL BLACKS FANS RATE SPRINGBOKS
In a clip posted on their social media platforms, New Zealand’s Sky Sport asked several All Blacks supporters if they believed that the Springboks were the “greatest rugby team of all time”.
Naturally, many Kiwis disputed the statement.
“No! Quite clearly from statistics, the All Blacks are the greatest sporting team of all time”, said one fan. Another claimed: “They’re one up on us over their World Cup win. But that’s all they can flex.”
A third revisited a 30-year-old conspiracy theory that caused a great divide between the rugby rivals.
“I don’t think so, other than the time they poisoned us”, the staunch supporter said.
A few acknowledged that the Springboks were currently at the top of their game.
“They’ve got an aura about them”, said one, while another added, “They’re the greatest at the moment”.
@skysportnz The debate never sleeps. Are the Springboks the greatest rugby team of all time? ? The Greatest Rivalry returns: All Blacks ? South Africa this Saturday from 5.30pm.
♬ original sound – skysportnz
‘POISONED’: WHAT HAPPENED AT THE 1995 WORLD CUP?
Over the past 30 years, All Blacks supporters have remained firm in their beliefs that their team was sabotaged by South Africans ahead of their 1995 Rugby World Cup finale against the Springboks.
The game – played at Ellis Park on 24 June 1995 – was won 15-12 by the Springboks.
According to the long-rumour, the boys in black and white were “poisoned” by a waitress named Suzie at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Sandton, where they were staying.
The tampered food allegedly left 27 out of 35 members of the All Blacks team suffering from debilitating bouts of diarrhoea and vomiting.
In 2003, Tony Rubin – a former manager at Crowne Plaza Hotel – slammed the rumours as nonsensical. Rubin told the Independent on Saturday that the players had defied orders by former coach Laurie Mains by eating out of the hotel.
The squad reportedly enjoyed a “prawn fest” at an unidentified seafood restaurant, which left them violently ill.
DO YOU THINK THE ALL BLACKS MADE UP THE RUMOUR ABOUT BEING POISONED IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 1995?
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