All Blacks fans blame Nelson Mandela and Buck Shelford’s ‘testicles’ for record Springboks defeat
After the All Blacks’ record defeat to the Springboks, a New Zealand radio show asked fans to send reasons why Scott Robertson’s charges fell to a record defeat, and they did not disappoint.
Prior to their 43-10 thrashing at Sky Stadium in Wellington, the All Blacks’ heaviest home defeat was by just 15 points to the Wallabies back in the 1960s.
However, Rassie Erasmus’ charges doubled that tally and some, running in six tries to their hosts’ one to blow the Rugby Championship wide open yet again.
9 hilarious excuses for All Blacks’ defeat
While the reaction in Aotearoa has been rather doom and gloom, iHeart Radio put a humorous spin on their reaction on the Hauraki Breakfast with Jeremy Wells & Manaia Stewart show, asking their listeners to text in their reasons as to why the All Blacks were comprehensively beaten.
“It can’t be because South Africa are a better rugby team or certainly weren’t on the day, it can’t be that,” Wells remarked.
Stewart added, “We can all agree on that, Jerry, they are not better than us at rugby. It’s got to be something else better than that, and the texts are flooding through.”
Wells began to read out some of the responses:
“Razor’s hairline,” one fan sent in, referencing All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson.
“Someone is blaming Buck’s testicle,” Stewart added with the fan clearly referencing Sir Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford, who famously had his testicle stitched up during a match against France in 1986 before returning to the pitch to finish the match.
Steward continued: “A lot of hate coming through for Nelson Mandela (South Africa’s first-ever black president), for uniting an otherwise broken country.”
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Why the All Blacks lost. 😂 #NZLvRSA pic.twitter.com/gwLm3FCI1t
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 16, 2025
The English’s fault
Another fan suggested that the All Blacks should get Dame Noeline Taurua, former NZ Netball head coach, in as she ‘has some free time’.
Taurua was controversially stood down from her role ahead of the tour to South Africa after issues were reportedly raised about the high-performance environment.
Steward continued to read out the texts: “The white collar on the jumper, dressed like the 80s, play like the 80s.”
He remarked, “Do we need a blue collar perhaps?”
“Someone is blaming the English for losing the Boer War, and Mike the Mongolian Throat Singer is coming through as well.
One text did leave Steward a bit confused, though.
“Aaron Cruden’s one testicle,” the message read.
With the host replying: “Which one? The one that he has got or the one that he doesn’t have?”
Fans also pointed the blame on the Barrett brothers, who notched up 300 Test cap appearances together in the match against the Springboks, which was the tenth time the trio had featured in a matchday 23 against the old foe.
“Too many Barrett brothers in one side,” Wells read.