Kiwi pundit Ben Smith’s provocative social media post compares the Proteas and Springboks, suggesting the latter’s Rugby World Cup successes are due to better luck, sparking widespread online debate and garnering over 14.9k views. Picture: ChatGPT/ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP
Image: ChatGPT/ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP
In the wake of the Proteas’ unceremonious exit from the T20 World Cup last week, and India’s subsequent one-sided victory in the final, New Zealand pundit has stuck the dagger in following another disappointing tournament for South Africa.
The Proteas went undefeated during the tournament until the semi-final stage, when they were completely outclassed by New Zealand.
Though many classified it as another example of a ‘choke’, it was anything but as South Africa did not come close to a sniff of victory against their Kiwi foes.
Now, Kiwi pundit Ben Smith has taken a tongue-in-cheek swipe at the Proteas and quite unjustifiably the Springboks in one deliberately provocative post on X.
Smith said: “The Proteas getting klapped by the Black Caps in another ICC tournament… Honestly, the Springboks are just the Proteas with better ‘luck’. The ‘gold watch’ semi-final in 1995. Suzie the waitress in the final. The 2007 Steven Bradberry run. The 2019 cakewalk and then the 2023 charity event of the century, 15-on-14 final and only winning by a point. The Proteas just aren’t getting the same level of assistance, but make no mistake, they are the same.”
I have no doubt that Smith is partaking in what social media users call ‘rage-baiting’, but there is indeed a level of brilliance, and mental gymnastics, in the comparison.
Somehow Smith manages to discredit not just one, but every single one of the Springboks’ four Rugby World Cup victories.
To date, Smith’s post has received 14.9k views, and over 100 comments.
Personally, I can only applaud Smith for some world-class trolling. It’s just a pity New Zealand were not quite as world-class in the final on Sunday.