The Guardian newspaper (www.guardian.co.uk) revealed that the official Lions Twitter account was forced earlier this week to delete a tweet showing a springbok impaled on a railing, accompanied by the words: “Isn’t this what @lionsofficial did to Springboks in the 3rd Test in Johannesburg 2009?”
The post reportedly lasted some 90 minutes before being withdrawn, and a subsequent tweet issued saying: “@lionsofficial would like to apologise for any offence caused by recent and inappropriate tweets.”
South Africans –\- just as much as Australians, no doubt - are likely to be bemused more than irked by the cheeky gremlin, considering that the tweet conveniently forgot to note that the Lions’ 28-9 victory at Ellis Park came in a dead-rubber clash, as John Smit’s Boks had already won the first two of the three contests.
At the time, coach Peter de Villiers controversially selected a greatly weakened Bok side for the last fixture, cocooning certain players for the later Tri-Nations, which South Africa again won.
*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing