It has become common for rugby fans at international matches to boo opposition placekickers as they attempt shots at goal. While this is not the most sportsmanlike of behaviour, it can just about be understood in terms of the passion, banter and zealous determination to win that one can expect at major sporting events.
Aggressive, unsolicited verbal abuse of fans of opposition teams, however, cannot be condoned or accepted in a civilised society and unfortunately we are recently seeing more of this at games in New Zealand.
A friend had an extremely unpleasant experience at Eden Park on Saturday. This new South African immigrant, happily settled with her family in Auckland for just over one year, was reduced to tears by All Black supporters who repeatedly snatched her green Springbok beanie off her head and let loose with a barrage of "f and c" words when she asked them to stop.
She was sitting with her husband and teenage sons and the bad language and abuse continued for much of the game, ruining the experience for them.
This is a well behaved and respected immigrant family who made the "mistake" of wearing the colours of their country of birth to Eden Park for an All Blacks v Springboks test match. Now they are questioning the character of some New Zealand fans and perhaps even subconsciously questioning their decision to migrate to New Zealand.