Outrage to bribery? Springboks fans react to England ref Wayne Barnes

After initially reacting out of anger to England referee Wayne Barnes being selected for the South Africa vs New Zealand Rugby World Cup final, Springboks fans have now jokingly resorted to offers of bribery. 

From “gifts” of beautiful women, holidays around Mzansi to even a retirement home in Sun City, SA social media users are hilariously urging Barnes to “do the right thing”.

Barnes will officiate the World Cup final on Saturday, 28 October, at the Stade de France.

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WAYNE BARNES: ‘IT IS MY GREATEST HONOUR’

In a tweet, English referee Wayne Barnes reacted to the announcement that he would referee the grand Rugby World Cup final between the Springboks and the All Blacks.

He posted: “It is the greatest honour of my career to be given the responsibility of refereeing a Rugby World Cup final in 2023”.

The appointment marks Barnes’s first time refereeing in a World Cup final.

It is the greatest honour of my career to be given the responsibility of refereeing a Rugby World Cup final 2023. https://t.co/bZ3O1mezuS

— Wayne Barnes (@WayneBarnesRef) October 23, 2023

SPRINGBOKS FANS JOKINGLY RESORT TO BRIBERY

Following the announcement, Springboks fans were angered at the selection of a referee from a country that are SA’s fiercest rugby rivals.

After the Springboks beat their Northern Hemisphere rugby rivals, many England supporters pledged to back the All Blacks.

Would this mean an unfair bias from Wayne Barnes to the reigning champions?

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But while a few are still concerned at how things will play out, other Springboks supporters have jokingly resorted to “bribing” Wayne Barnes to “do the right thing.”

“Allow me to introduce your retirement home”, one tweep hilariously posted of a picture of Sun City.

Here’s a look at a more funny Twitter offers…

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Come to Phala Phala Farm for a weekend please pic.twitter.com/V6OmW0DInb

— champion 🏆 🥇 (@PMSFC__) October 23, 2023

Mr Ref.

Allow me to present to you, your retirement home.

We thank you as South Africa pic.twitter.com/noJnZokEh5

— Boy Jacobs (@BoyJacobs2) October 23, 2023

I have the finest Tsonga women waiting for you if you do the right thing

— Judas Iscariot (@ujudas_iscariot) October 24, 2023

I will personally take you to these rural areas of Eastern Cape 🇿🇦🇿🇦

We will welcome you at the OR Tambo International Airport whenever you decide to come.

Just give us penalties…whenever we deserve them pic.twitter.com/jBj0ZU41uP

— Constitution First 🇿🇦 (@Constitution_94) October 23, 2023

Hao batle ho ya KONKA e Soweto pic.twitter.com/69l7PfOw9W

— Deal with them (@NtsebiH) October 24, 2023