The passion of Cape Town’s All Blacks fans

Cape Town is well known for its All Black supporters, whose motivations for embracing a team representing another country aren’t always as clear-cut as many Kiwis think.

“It started with my dad,” said Kurshé-Lee Brandt, who lives in nearby Paarl and attends every game with her equally rugby-mad partner Angelique Johannes.

“For him, it started with the apartheid era in South Africa. For me as a child, I didn’t understand any of that but I just knew Saturday mornings meant watching rugby with dad. In later years, I developed my own love for the All Blacks and that’s never changed. My dad passed away in 2017…so whenever I watch the All Blacks there’s a part of it that reminds me of him.”

The 1970 and ‘76 All Black tours of South Africa are remembered as one of the only sporting contacts the apartheid regime still had with the world, so many rugby fans chose to support the visitors rather than the Springboks. Sir Bryan Williams became a legend in those tours for being a surrogate representative for ethnic groups, who were unable to play under the laws of the time.

But while that is the most well known reason, it’s not the only way fans now in the area chose to pull on a black jersey.

“As a kid, the haka was the most intriguing thing to watch…it gives me chills and I can never get over the moment they do it,” said Angelique.

“I was always in awe when they took the field. I thought, ‘what an amazing team this is, what a style of play’, so my passion for them grew and grew. I love Dan Carter, Ardie Savea and Will Jordan, he’s just poetry on the field.”

Kurshé-Lee and Angelique’s passion for New Zealand rugby extends to the Black Ferns, age grade sides and All Blacks Sevens, or anyone wearing black. One of their favourite memories is watching the Black Ferns Sevens dominate the Cape Town tournament, and meeting the players.

Cape Town Environmental Consultant Dylan Moodaley shares the same passion for the All Blacks, and it started with Jonah Lomu, who changed rugby forever in the city’s old Newlands Stadium.

“He set the tournament alight (at the 1995 World Cup),” he said.

“It always comes to that aspect of the way they promoted rugby globally, it’s like the way the Brazil football team played in the 90s. So it was easily relatable to many global fans and because they play South Africa a lot, we were privileged to go and see games…in terms of memories one of my favourites was my dad carrying me on his shoulders to Newlands to see Tony Brown kick four penalties in a 12-3 win.”

Dylan admits that supporting a team that plays against your own country can be challenging, but it’s worth it.

“We still need to respect each other as people, we can have banter. For me what’s special is the All Blacks…I don’t know how to describe how they make me feel.”

That global fandom makes the younger generation of South African supporters more akin to anyone around the world who follows English Premier League sides or major American teams, with apparel playing a large role.

Also it’s worth pointing out that South African All Black support is certainly not confined to Cape Town. The entire Cape region down to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) contains families who have worshipped Williams, Lomu and countless others, while the Greatest Rivalry tour has seen fans decked out in All Black jerseys show up to Loftus Versfeld and Ellis Park.

Historically, the Cape Town support has translated into success for the All Blacks on the field. They had a seven win, three loss record against the Springboks at Newlands, plus the iconic 1995 World Cup semi final win over England. They have only played twice at DHL Stadium, with a loss to the Springboks and a win over the Stormers in the tour opener.

“There’s something special about when the All Blacks come,” said Angelique. 

“Yes, there’s a history of why, but for me it’s so special to see South Africans come out to support them. The All Blacks will always have a home in Cape Town.”

Times are changing in South Africa, though. The Springboks are now four-time World Cup winners and truly represent the nation, especially under talismanic captain Siya Kolisi, so a large majority of South Africa’s ‘born-free’ generation in Cape Town will be decked out in green jerseys this weekend at DHL Stadium. 

But for Kurshé-Lee, the choice is simple.

“The All Blacks are my team, that will never change.”