Popular world opinion says that Springboks are most hated. I have never heard that - try the English or the French mate. What world opinion are you talking about. As an All Black supporter we respect that Boks and know they are they only nation to consistently match us. Everybody loves the All Blacks!?! Journalists always write off their opposition. IT IS THE OPPOSITE. The All Blacks, as a consistent world performer, are more often than not loathed - a proven pattern in sport where the more successful teams are not supported. How on earth are you backing up your facts. In last years WC QF against France almost all journalists were picking Les Bleus for the upset! You need to back up your claims.

Your "facts" that back up the Boks are stronger. SA has two IRB players of the year - the same as the All Blacks with Dan Carter and Richie McCaw. Best locks maybe (what about the Wallaby locks), best scrumhalf - maybe on last years form but du Preez has had a poor 2008. But the All Blacks have a better front row and a better flyhalf. So that cancels that advantage. Quickest and fast loose forward trio??? On what grounds - I do think that Burger is the best number 6, but McCaw is the best number 7. Kankowski isn't even the first choice Springbok number eight - and nominee for this years IRB player of the year - THE IRB HASN'T EVEN RELEASED IT'S NOMINEES. Quickest back three? I think Shane Williams proved recently that your back three are not the fastest in the world. And Chavanga and Jantjes again are not the first choice three quarters. I do believe that the Boks and the Blacks will be the world's dominant teams, but don't quote "FACTS" unless they are actually backed up.

AH, confederacy of dunces... the RRBRS Award (Royal Rugger Bugger Rocket Scientists Award) goessss toooo..... JIMMY ! FACTS ! Subjectively... a fans perogative AND the Boks are the GREATEST (and did I say... the Springboks are the greatest ?) Yip... the Springboks are the greatest ! A fact ! he, he... how you like them apples ?

Freak

Greg Smith, I do'nt know if you're a saffa, I am and I do not share your sentiments. Your arrogance reeks. Yes let us not fear the ABs but there is a 2 way respect between the nations that folk like you dont seem to get. As Jimmy said, there's no fact to your story. By popular opinion yes, the boks may have the best lineout, but the ABs do have the best scrum. The boks may have slightly better loosies (with Richie being injured) but the kiwis have the best 10 in the world. We may have slightly faster 11,14 and 15... but that doesnt make up for their defensive inefficiencies. On paper, the sides are pretty evenly matched but add to the pot the home ground advantage. Yes the boks are called World Champs but would you rate England after winning the cup in 2003 and losing nearly every game thereafter except the one they drew against the u/12C girls team from the local blind school. Until the day we beat the kiwi's more than they beat us... We're still number 2 mate. Every knowledgable Rugby supporter in SA would agree, we needed to beat NZ in the final of the WC to really claim the champ card. If NZ thrash us in NZ and win in SA too... well, we're gonna be labelled all kinds of nasties.

I have never heard that the boks are the most hated team in the world... In the nineties maybe we had a reputation for being dirty, but that has since faded. I also remember SA getting enormous support from the neutrals at the WC. Habana was one of the biggest tourist attractions at the show. The only teams I know of that are disliked by many... and this may be biased since im south african, but I know England and Australia top those lists. England because they are bad winners, and Australia because they are irritatingly good at every sport.

Ivan, Where do you live mate? I live in the UK and i can tell you now the Boks are dissaliked by all of the UK and Austrailia. The main reason is down to "arrogance". If you live in the UK, then i would like to know where you watch the games because i will join you.. Also if you care to read Planetrugby or Rugbyheaven you will see what i was talking about in relation to international Journlists views on "the bokke". Yes the boks got the netural support at the worldcup and yes everybody hates england.. but we are talking about the fact that no netural will support the boks if they are playing France, wales, NZ or Aus.. FACT!

Strums, perhaps you see that allot in England, but the english hate everyone dont they? most of all France? I live in joburg, and I seriously don't see that we're of the more arrogant sides, yes our pathetic commentators have orgasms when we score, not unlike the aussies or even the welsh commentators that miss everything a welshman does wrong, one thing we would have to agree on, is that the Kiwis have a world of respect in the sport, and deservingly so, SA is trying to break those labels of yesteryear, we behave on tour (unlike england or aus), we behave off the field... if people still hate us, its a long time hatred that has other roots i feel. The aussies hate us because they are really bad losers and we keep beating them in sa.we hate them because they whip us at cricket and pretty much everything else. And i do read those sites, more than often there are words of praise for springboks, for the team and their achievements in the face of serious adversity. back to the point though, i agree with you that it will take a long time to break that image we seem to carry, but i think we've made strides...