‘The Springboks poisoned us!’: All Blacks fans dig in a 30-year-old grave

All Blacks fans have reignited a long-standing rumour about the Springboks allegedly causing food poisoning before the 1995 World Cup.

The discussion comes ahead of South Africa’s crucial clash with New Zealand on Saturday, 6 September at Eden Park.

ALL BLACKS FANS RATE SPRINGBOKS

A clip shared on social media shows Sky Sport asking All Blacks supporters if the Springboks are rugby’s greatest team.

Many Kiwis strongly disagreed. “No! Statistics clearly prove the All Blacks are the greatest sporting team ever,” one fan said.

Another added, “They’re slightly ahead due to their World Cup win, but that’s all they can boast about.”

A third fan revived a 30-year-old conspiracy theory. “I don’t think so, except for the time they poisoned us,” he said.

Several supporters admitted the Springboks are performing at the top of their game. “They’ve got an aura about them,” one said.

Another agreed: “At this moment, they’re the greatest in the world.”

For three decades, some All Blacks fans have believed South Africans sabotaged their team before the 1995 World Cup final.

The match, held on 24 June 1995 at Ellis Park, ended 15-12 in favour of the Springboks.

Rumours claimed a waitress named Suzie at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Sandton tampered with the team’s meals.

Allegedly, 27 of 35 All Blacks players suffered severe vomiting and diarrhoea from the contaminated food.

In 2003, Tony Rubin, former Crowne Plaza manager, dismissed the stories as nonsense. He told the Independent on Saturday the players ignored orders.

Coach Laurie Mains had warned against eating outside the hotel. Yet the squad indulged in a “prawn fest” at an unknown seafood restaurant.

The meal reportedly caused their violent illness, not any intentional sabotage by the Springboks.