But the political history is only part of it. Danville Felkers, chairman of the Eastern Cape All Blacks supporters club, which has 3000 registered members, sheds light on the fanbase.
"I was born into supporting the All Blacks. My father, grandfather and uncles are very passionate supporters, and it is very easy for new generations to continue this tradition because the All Blacks are a brilliant rugby team. They are the Manchester United of rugby. They win consistently and they win in style. People love winners."
Older members of the Port Elizabeth community are in no hurry to convert their children into Bok supporters. They feel stranded by empty promises from the game's governing body.
"Rugby has died in the schools of the [poor] northern suburbs," Felkers says. "And we have played rugby in this region forever. But we have no facilities. There has been no investment from Saru, no upliftment and we feel let down."
Once more, in a brand-new era, resentment of Saru has been channelled into supporting the Springboks' opposition.
"In our suburbs we are crying out for sport to give our teenagers something to do to keep them away from drugs and crime. Rugby can do that, but it hasn't because the system has let us down."
Saru's flagship investment in the Eastern Cape is, of course, the Southern Kings, and bully to them for resurrecting top-flight rugby in the region, but for the less affluent rugby man on the ground this means diddly squat.
"Nothing has changed at grass roots," says Felkers. "We don't feel that Saru is engaging us. We don't feel any affinity to Saru. We remain forgotten."
