Former All Black Lima Sopoaga Trolls Springbok Fans After Ellis Park Win
- Former All Blacks player Lima Sopoaga took to social media to taunt South African rugby supporters after New Zealand's victory at Ellis Park
- Sopoaga had faced death threats from Springbok fans in the days leading up to the first test match of the Greatest Rivalry series
- The win gave the All Blacks an early lead in the four-test series against the back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions
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Former All Blacks player Lima Sopoaga publicly mocked Springbok supporters on social media after New Zealand defeated South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday, 22 August, in the opening test of the Greatest Rivalry series.
Sopoaga, who had been exchanging banter with South African rugby fans in the build-up to the match, wasted no time celebrating on his Facebook page once the final whistle blew. He posted
"Bang, bang, Good night" shortly after the Kiwis sealed victory, then followed up by taunting supporters who had predicted a Springbok win:
"Receipts kept 🤫 Retaliation is a must, ain't no maybes ifs or buts."
Sopoaga Targeted With Death Threats Before the Match
In the days before the Ellis Park showdown, Sopoaga revealed that his support for the All Blacks had drawn an extreme reaction from some South African fans. He called out individuals who had sent threatening messages to his inbox after he publicly stated he hoped New Zealand would win two of their three matches on South African soil.
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"Hey guys, just remember it's just a game. Some of you in my DMs are sending death threats because I said I want my team to win 2-1 in SA. I love a bit of banter and back-and-forth. But come on now, it's not that deep," he wrote ahead of kick-off.
All Blacks take early lead in Greatest Rivalry Series
The result hands New Zealand the advantage heading into the remaining three tests of the Greatest Rivalry series. Sopoaga confirmed he plans to attend the All Blacks' upcoming fixture against the Lions, as well as their next encounter with the Springboks the following week.
South Africa enter the series as back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions, making New Zealand's opening victory at a traditional Springbok stronghold all the more significant for Kiwi supporters and former players alike.
Source: Briefly News
